Review: Philosophy in Seven Sentences

Book: Groothuis, Douglas. Philosophy in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic. IVP Academic, 2016.

<a href=”Book: Groothuis, Douglas. Philosophy in Seven Sentences: A Small Introduction to a Vast Topic. IVP Academic, 2016.

Pages: 161 Owner: Kindle Date of reading: 1st – 8/8/21

Point: To think and act philosophically means that we take reality seriously and seek to mold our understanding to it and the Truth with undergirds it. To do so we ought to listen to some of the great thinkers and what moved them to think deeply.

Path: Groothuis uses seven sentences, by philosophers covering thousands of years, to point us down the path of truth and reality. The seven sentences that he uses are: Protagoras: Man is the measure of all things. Socrates: The unexamined life is not worth living. Aristotle: All men by nature desire to know. Augustine: You have made us for yourself, and restless is our heart until it comes to rest in you. Descartes: I think, therefore I am. Pascal: The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing. Kierkegaard: The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all.

Sources: Obviously the philosophers’ writings themselves, but also the life and works of said thinkers, and occasionally others who commented upon those writers and writings.

Agreement: I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to philosophy through the writings of seven influential thinkers. Groothuis captivated me through his knowledge of these philosophers and helped me understand the broad topics they were addressing. Obviously this is an introduction, and I believe it fulfilled its function by motivating me to move the original sources.

Personal App: Kierkegaard’s treatment of despair is intriguing to me. Am I willing to enter into it in order to see myself and God more clearly?

Favorite Quote: “Some do not know that the unfocused mind should not be paired with the opened mouth” (35).

Stars: 4 out of 5

It would be worth another read and I would recommend it to someone who: Is interested in philosophy Ascribes to a relativistic worldview

Other books along this theme would be:

Durant, Will. The Story of Philosophy. Revised edition. New York, N.Y: Simon & Schuster, 1967. Schaeffer, Francis A. Escape from Reason : A Penetrating Analysis of Trends in Modern Thought. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1968. Warburton, Nigel. A Little History of Philosophy. Yale University Press, 2011.”>

Point: To think and act philosophically means that we take reality seriously and seek to mold our understanding to it and the Truth which undergirds it. To do so we ought to listen to some of the great thinkers and what moved them to think deeply.

Path: Groothuis uses seven sentences, by philosophers covering thousands of years, to point us down the path of truth and reality. The seven sentences that he uses are:

Protagoras: Man is the measure of all things.

Socrates: The unexamined life is not worth living.

Aristotle: All men by nature desire to know.

Augustine: You have made us for yourself, and restless is our heart until it comes to rest in you.

Descartes: I think, therefore I am.

Pascal: The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing.

Kierkegaard: The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all.

Sources: Obviously the philosophers’ writings themselves, but also the life and works of said thinkers, and occasionally others who commented upon those writers and writings.

Agreement: I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to philosophy through the writings of seven influential thinkers. Groothuis captivated me through his knowledge of these philosophers and helped me understand the broad topics they were addressing. Obviously this is an introduction, and I believe it fulfilled its function by motivating me to move the original sources.

Personal App: Kierkegaard’s treatment of despair is intriguing to me. Am I willing to enter into it in order to see myself and God more clearly?

Favorite Quote: “Some do not know that the unfocused mind should not be paired with the opened mouth” (35).

Stars: 4 out of 5

It would be worth another read and I would recommend it to someone who:

– Is interested in philosophy

– Ascribes to a relativistic worldview

Other books along this theme would be:

Durant, Will. The Story of Philosophy. Revised edition. New York, N.Y: Simon & Schuster, 1967.

Schaeffer, Francis A. Escape from Reason : A Penetrating Analysis of Trends in Modern Thought. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1968.

Warburton, Nigel. A Little History of Philosophy. Yale University Press, 2011.