In this landmark study of Western thought, Anthony Gottlieb looks afresh at the writings of our great thinkers of classic philosophy and questions many pieces of conventional wisdom. From the pre-Socratic philosophers like Empedocles, through the celebrated days of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and up to the Renaissance visionaries like Erasmus and Bacon, Gottlieb traces the progress of our philosophy as a phenomenon unconfined by any one discipline. Through example and anecdote, he builds a vivid portrait of the human drive for understanding, providing a fresh appreciation of the philosophical quest, its entertaining and bizarre byways, and its influence on every aspect of life.