From the vantage point of a new century, twentieth-century philosophy in the Western world can be grouped according to four main trends: Marxism, Anglo-American analytic philosophy, American pragmatism, and continental philosophy. Rockmore evaluates the different strands of these discussions and analyzes their origins, arguing that they all evolved in reaction to Kant's fascinating and demanding philosophy.
Assuming that the history of philosophy, and philosophy itself, are continuous, Rockmore evaluates the extent to which the debate served to move the issues forward, and provides an intriguing assessment of the accomplishments of twentieth-century philosophy. Intended for readers with little background in philosophy, this volume provides a sense of the main thinkers and problems, and of the nature of the debates in a tumultuous time.