Initiation into Philosophy is a broad overview of the development of philosophy. Emile Faguet covers all major philosophical developments from the ancient times to the modern era, showing the tracks of the growth of reason over the course of Western civilization. He shows how each philosophical movement initiates and lays the groundwork for the next. This is essentially a comprehensive review of the study of thought and the conception of the world. It offers the new student of philosophy a framework to understand the subject in context and provides the seasoned philosopher with a review of the major philosophical developments in history.

A chapter-by-chapter summary precedes the narration of the text. The summary includes a short biography of the author and the background information of the work, as well as an overview, synopsis, and analysis of the text. The summary also includes an examination of the historical context of the work and investigates both its social impact and the criticisms which it evoked.

This work is a must-hear for students of philosophy and for anyone interested in the history of thought.