Sejarah Filsafat barat (kata pengantar) - Bertrand Russell | Audiobook Bahasa Indonesia

Summary

The transcript is from Bertrand Russell's introduction to his book 'A History of Western Philosophy'. Russell acknowledges the challenge of covering a broad field like philosophy, suggesting that specialists might critique his work for not delving deeply into individual philosophers. He defends his approach, aiming to show the connections between historical events and philosophical thought, emphasizing the influence of social, political, and institutional contexts on philosophers. Russell also includes sections on social history to provide context for understanding philosophical ideas, arguing that philosophy is integral to societal life.

Takeaways

• 📚 The book 'Sejarah Filsafat Barat' is written by Bertrand Russell, aiming to provide a comprehensive view of Western philosophy.
• 🔍 The author acknowledges that a broad historical account might lack the depth of specialized monographs but is necessary for understanding the interconnectedness of ideas.
• 🤔 Russell emphasizes the importance of considering philosophers not as isolated individuals but as products of their social, political, and institutional contexts.
• 🏛 The book attempts to show the influence of historical events on philosophical thought and how philosophers' ideas were shaped by their times.
• 📈 It discusses the challenge of selecting which philosophers and historical periods to include, focusing on those with significant impact on subsequent thought.
• 👥 The author mentions the difficulty in finding a balance between providing necessary historical context and avoiding overly lengthy discussions on single issues.
• 📖 Russell's work is intended to be accessible and engaging, avoiding dry academic language while still being informative.
• 🤝 The book is a collaborative effort, with contributions from Dr. Albert C. Barnes and the Barnes Foundation, as well as support from the author's wife, Patricia.
• 📝 The author has been involved in teaching and writing since 1932, and this book is part of a series of works that have been developed over time.
• 🌐 The book aims to show philosophy as an integral part of society, not just a series of debates or disagreements among philosophers.

Q & A

Who is the author of the book mentioned in the transcript?

The author of the book mentioned in the transcript is Bertrand Russell.

What is the main purpose of the 'Apology' section in the book?

The 'Apology' section is intended to provide an explanation to prevent the book from receiving harsh criticism, mainly from specialists in specific scientific fields and philosophers who study particular issues.

Why might a comprehensive book on a broad field be criticized by academically rigorous individuals?

Academically rigorous individuals might criticize a comprehensive book on a broad field because they believe that such a book should not be written or, if it must be written, should consist of monographs by many authors due to the complexity and depth required for such a wide scope.

What is the significance of the historical context in understanding philosophical thoughts according to the transcript?

The historical context is significant in understanding philosophical thoughts because it provides the social, political, and institutional background that influences the beliefs, which in turn shape the politics and institutions of subsequent eras.

Why does the author believe it is necessary to include social history in the book?

The author believes it is necessary to include social history in the book to provide a comprehensive understanding of philosophical thoughts, as philosophers are a product of their social environment and their ideas are influenced by the society in which they live.

What is the author's approach to presenting philosophers in the book?

The author attempts to present each philosopher with data that might seem as a result of their times, showing that their thoughts and feelings crystallized and formed within the context of their era, even if they appear disjointed and incomplete to us.

What is the author's stance on the relationship between philosophy and society?

The author views philosophy as an integral part of society, not just a matter of schools of thought or disagreements among philosophers, and argues that philosophy is deeply intertwined with the life of the community.

Why does the author include chapters on pure social history in the book?

The author includes chapters on pure social history to provide necessary context for understanding the philosophical thoughts, such as the need to know about the Hellenistic era to understand Socrates or the growth of churches from the 5th to the 13th century to understand the School of Stoicism.

What is the author's strategy for selecting which historical periods to discuss in the book?

The author focuses on discussing historical periods that have significantly influenced philosophical thought and avoids discussing periods that seem unrelated or only slightly related to contemporary philosophy or subsequent periods.

How does the author balance detailed explanations with the need to keep the book engaging?

The author tries to find a middle ground by discussing only philosophers who, in the author's view, have significant importance and relevance, providing detailed explanations of their thoughts while also giving illustrations of their lives to make the book engaging.

Who are the individuals acknowledged by the author for their contributions to the book?

The author acknowledges Dr. Albert C. Barnes for his initial design and contributions through lectures at the Barnes Foundation, and Patricia, the author's wife, for her assistance in research and other aspects of the book.