Is it possible to give a complete introduction to Philosophy in seven sentences? No.
But thankfully that is not the idea of Douglas Groothuis' skillfully written book. While he takes you on a journey through the thought processes of various philosophers throughout the ages, what he accomplishes best is a whetting of the appetite for deeper thought and a projected discomfort for mental laziness (or acedia). From a single sentence and brief history of each of the philosophers featured, he weighs the themes of their philosophical approaches with how they affect us today. From Protagoras' idea of man being the measure of all things, bringing about a self destructive form of relativism, to Augustine's desire to find ultimate satisfaction and rest for the human soul, each of these thinkers have impacted the way people see the world today, and there is a gold mine to explore with each of them.
After you finish this book you will be spurred on to further study, and you will realize that philosophy is not merely a discipline in isolation, but rather is the pursuit of wisdom and the knowledge of where we came from, who we are, and where we are going. And this applies to every facet of life. Even if you do not agree with all of his conclusions, you will understand why "the unexamined life is not worth living." So, whether you are a seasoned philosopher or an average Joe just looking to understand the deeper things of life, you will find plenty to explore here.
Dr. Groothuis said it well,
"Philosophy is not a closed club or a secret society. Since we all can think about ultimate questions, let's do it."
