author
Alfred William Benn
1843–1915
A thoughtful guide to the history of ideas, he wrote clear, wide-ranging books that helped general readers follow philosophy from ancient Greece to the modern age. His work is especially appealing for listeners curious about rationalism, skepticism, and the big debates of modern thought.
3 Audiobooks
History of Modern Philosophy
by Alfred William Benn
The Greek Philosophers, Vol. 2 (of 2)
by Alfred William Benn
The Greek Philosophers, Vol. 1 (of 2)
by Alfred William Benn
About the author
Born in 1843 and active in British intellectual life, Alfred William Benn was a philosopher, historian of philosophy, and agnostic writer. He became known for presenting complex ideas in a way that connected philosophy with broader cultural and historical change.
His best-known books include The Greek Philosophers (1882), The History of English Rationalism in the Nineteenth Century (1906), and A History of Modern Philosophy (1912). He was also associated with the Rationalist Press Association, which helped bring serious nonfiction to a wider reading public.
Benn died in 1915. Though not a household name today, his books remain interesting for readers who enjoy clear surveys of philosophical thought and the long development of rationalist ideas.