Cyril Edwin Mitchinson Joad was one of the most famous philosophers and historians of philosophy in the first half of the twentieth century. He succeeded in attracting a large audience and guiding them through the intricacies of ancient and modern philosophies with his popular books, radio talks, and simplified yet accurate style. This book is an excellent introduction and an in-depth discussion of some of the most important philosophical currents at the turn of the twentieth century, such as materialism, idealism, pragmatism, and the philosophies of Russell and Bergson. Each chapter begins with a comprehensive presentation of the key principles of a philosophical current, then concludes with a balanced discussion between its critics and proponents.