A Brief History of Thought
A Brief History of Thought
Citation
Ferry, Luc. A Brief History of Thought: A Philosophical Guide to Living. Harper Perennial, 2011.
Thesis in one sentence
Philosophy is a practical craft: each historical turn refines how to live meaningfully in a finite world.
Contribution to my garden
- Why it matters: frames philosophical moves as toolkits—useful for mapping RDD’s claims against lived practice.
- Where it plugs in: Recursive Distinction Dynamics (Hub) · Reviews & Insights (Hub)
- Scope: synthesis patterns for “book → atom/molecule” translation.
Key ideas / claims
- Humanism reorients meaning from metaphysical order to human agency.
- Modernity’s autonomy emphasizes responsibility and coherence.
- Philosophical schools are life-tech, not just theory.
Friction / counterpoints
- Broad strokes can blur competing definitions; risks teleology.
- Test: compare Ferry’s periodization against non-Western traditions.
Quotes / page marks
- “Philosophy is learning to live and to die.” p. X
- …
Links
- Book note: A Brief History of Thought
- Zotero: Open in Zotero