Socrates' Children Box Set (An Introduction to Philosophy from the 100 Greatest Philosophers) Paperback – February 26, 2023

This is going to be a little controversial, and I am fully aware that Kreeft had to draw a line somewhere, circumscribing who made the cut and who didn’t. More on that below.I can’t be emphatic enough. There really isn’t anything like this book. To the world of gifted high school or even middle school education it is not an exaggeration to say that this collection is borderline revolutionary.I would like to give this book five stars, but there’s one main reason I couldn’t. I feel like Kreeft leaves out a small but critical section: let’s call it literary genius. He has other borderline specimens, like Solomon, Heraclitus, and Cicero, for example, but he leaves out a a handful that I just think would’ve made the book about perfect, and which, especially from the student’s perspective, really ought to have been included. The one from the “sages” I’d say is Zhuangzi. Two from the rest of the “ancient” period are Homer and Paul; From the Renaissance (somewhere, interestingly, between “Medieval” and “Modern”— come to think of it it’s interesting that the Medieval” section is the slimmest and could have been beefed up…). From the Renaissance I’d argue for Luther, Erasmus, —maybe John Heywood— and Shakespeare, maybe Montaigne; from the “Modern” section I think Goethe and Emerson should’ve been included; and the only one from the “Contemporary” section I’d suggest is Tolstoy.I won’t get into the details. It’s just my opinion and I don’t have time at the moment to offer my arguments. Just like the sages, none of these men quite had an explicit system, but all of them applied their powerful, unrelentingly philosophical minds either to (pretty much) all aspects of the human condition, or at least one indispensable philosophy/religion/theology (like Paul, Luther, and Erasmus). This list is not exhaustive, but I don’t think it needs to be long.Also, formally speaking, a more literary section could be a complement to his “Sages” section. Nothing like symmetry and balance.Two other points that are worth mentioning:Kreeft’s “A Note on Mohammed. This may be one of the most fascinating small paragraphs I’ve come across in any philosophy text, let alone an orthodox Christian/ Roman Catholic one. Kreeft says that “[if] the Quran came only from Muhammad’s mind” (as opposed to that of “the one God”), “then Mohammed was the greatest philosopher who ever lived…”(35). Kreeft qualifies this statement a little bit more but it doesn’t change the astonishing core of what he’s expressing. Can we get a Kreeft book about Islam? Please?!A couple of the essays are written by a coauthor whose style, unfortunately, doesn’t quite reach Kreeft’s. I’m not saying Kreeft is better or inimitable, but part of makes his books so good is his unique voice. So to me it was just a little jarring and slightly disappointing that a tiny handful of times the verbal cinematography changed.

I can't imagine a better introduction to philosophy than this series of books. It is clear, concise, and witty. You will learn the basics of what each philosopher taught, something about his life, and what each was trying to say (the "big idea" that animates his thought). The author is trustworthy. He is honest about his own views and lets each philosopher have his say.I am familiar with all the important philosophers and their schools of thought. This is not because I am especially smart, but because I've always been interested in the history of thought. I learned a lot from reading this series. This is no surprise, as I haven't devoted my life to the subject, as the author has. There are insights here that I could not put together on my own. I would recommend this set to both the beginner and the more advanced student.

Great introduction to many philosophers. It helped me decide which philosophers I wanted to study further.

So much honest, true, and real education here on what books and philosophers really count, and why you should read them passed on from a master teacher and life long student of philosophy. You will be richly rewarded by reading these books yourselves and giving them to people hungry to learn the essence and basics of philosophy. A true, precious gift that is a delight. Enjoy and may you grow in wisdom, love, and joy for life!

For anyone who wants to learn about the most influential philosophers and their views from Pre-Socratics through contemporary thinkers, this is an excellent series. It is well written and it explains, in easier terms, the philosophies throughout the years. The series may be a little pricey - but it is well worth the money.

I like the format. Reading the intro was extremely helpful. I was going to have my kids read these, but ended up reading them myself because they were a bit much for middle schoolers and more than enough for me. A good addition to the library. And helped me classify my own confused college courses of Kant and Sartre. I also enjoy the quotes…anything to beef up a pretentious vocabulary is always a huge plus for me