Abstract
The Very Short Introduction series from Oxford University Press now numbers over 500 volumes, covering everything from anaesthesia to Zionism. Michael’s Beaney’s very short introduction to analytic philosophy sits somewhere in the middle of this spectrum, forming a counterpoint to Simon Critchley’s volume on Continental philosophy, which appeared in 2001. Beaney’s overview is undoubtedly the first port of call for anyone seeking to acquaint themselves with this particular branch of philosophy, although it is not a book for the uninitiated. The first five chapters present fairly bracing excursions into the thought-worlds of Gottlob Frege (1848–1925), Bertrand Russell (1872–1970), G. E. Moore (1873–1958), Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889–1951), and Susan Stebbing (1885–1943). These ‘thought-thinking trips’ (p. 92) are not the kind of sightseeing tour for which many readers might expect in a Very Short Introduction. In his introduction, the author reminds readers that reading philosophy is not like reading a novel and offers the warning that certain paragraphs will need to be reread. Beaney writes clearly and offers excellent summaries of difficult primary sources, but one wonders whether the sixth and final chapter ‘So what is analytic philosophy?’ might have better been placed at the beginning of the book. This final chapter offers a very accessible overview of the notions one has already encountered in the preceding five chapters and locates Frege, Russell, Moore, Wittgenstein, and Stebbing within the broader narrative of Anglo-American philosophy in the twentieth century. The newcomer would be likely to find the five principal chapters easier going for having read this summary. Of particular interest is Beaney’s assessment of the common criticisms of analytic philosophy and his discussion of the relationship between analytic philosophy and Continental philosophy. Here, Beaney flags common misconceptions and offers a frank appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of both traditions. For those wishing to pursue any particular line of investigation, Beaney also provides a very helpful list of primary and secondary sources (pp. 115–125). All in all, this slim volume is certain to prove a useful resource for anyone seeking to come to grips with some of the founding fathers (and mother) of analytic philosophy. This book is highly recommended, but not for the philosophically fainthearted.