Despite its massive success, The Story of Philosophy faced pushback from contemporary academic philosophers. The primary criticisms leveled against the book include:
A fascinating example of the book’s power is Durant’s handling of Aristotle. At the time, Aristotle was often viewed as a dry systematizer. Durant presented him as a living naturalist who enjoyed life and categorized existence. Durant even coined the famous maxim, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit”—a phrase so well written that it is frequently misattributed to Aristotle himself.
As noted in a critical review (SSRN), the book does have limitations. Durant focuses heavily on Western figures, often neglecting Eastern and Islamic contributions. Furthermore, some philosophers are prioritized over others, reflecting his subjective interpretation of who "mattered" most. However, this does not diminish the work as an excellent introductory text. Conclusion
If you’ve ever felt intimidated by the "Great Books" or found yourself lost in the jargon of modern academia, Durant’s masterpiece was written specifically for you. The Vision: Philosophy for the People
There is a peculiar kind of terror that lives in the phrase “I should probably read some philosophy.”
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each covering a distinct period or movement in the history of philosophy. The chapters are:
Underneath the biographical sketches, Durant had a specific philosophical agenda. He conceived of philosophy as “total perspective” or seeing things sub specie totius (from the perspective of the whole), influenced by Spinoza’s sub specie aeternitatis (from the perspective of the eternal). He was alarmed by the increasing fragmentation of knowledge into esoteric specialties and sought to unify and vitalize it for contemporary use.
Durant’s journey to writing The Story of Philosophy began not with grand ambition, but with a series of small, inexpensive educational pamphlets. These were part of the "Little Blue Books" series, which were designed to bring knowledge to working-class readers. The book’s format—concise, engaging, and affordable—was shaped from the start by a mission to reach a broad audience. The pamphlets were so well-received that they were eventually compiled into a single hardcover volume. This compilation was published by Simon & Schuster in 1926, and to everyone’s surprise, it became an instant bestseller, selling millions of copies. The book’s success provided financial independence for the Durants, allowing them to dedicate decades to their masterwork, The Story of Civilization .
Durant’s philosophy professor background drove his desire to tear down the elitist barriers of academic jargon. He later won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction (1968) and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977) for his later work, the eleven-volume The Story of Civilization , but his journey to popular acclaim began with the work we are examining today.
If you are interested in exploring specific philosophers, I can provide:
The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant: The Masterpiece That Brought Philosophy to the Masses
The Masterpiece That Brought Philosophy to the Masses: A Deep Dive into Will Durant’s The Story of Philosophy
