Will Durant’s first book analyses the ‘social problem’ that he identifies as the gap between the rich and poor. He proposes that knowledge is the answer to this issue and suggests that philosophy is the key to this knowledge.

Philosophy and the Social Problem is Will Durant’s 1917 work arguing the importance of philosophical thought within societal functions and government organisations. He refers to Socrates, Plato, Francis Bacon, and Baruch Spinoza’s ideas to support his analysis of knowledge organised knowledge. Hoping to both solve the social problem and revitalise philosophy with his text, Durant proposes that philosophy is the only effective solution to the modern world.

This volume features an introductory article on ‘Philosophy and the Social Problem: Facts - And Values’, and is not to be missed by those interested in philosophical thoughts and ideas.