Luc Ferry’s Book — A Brief History of Thought
✍️ Shariq Ali
Valueversity
Have you ever wondered when humans first began to think? This urge to reflect — Who are we? What is the world? What happens after death? — these fundamental questions have walked with us since the dawn of civilisation.
Luc Ferry’s A Brief History of Thought is a fascinating journey through these very questions.
The author explains that philosophy is actually “the art of understanding life.” It is not merely a collection of theories, but a way of living. According to him, human thought has always revolved around three major questions:
- What is the universe?
- How should we live?
- How can we overcome the fear of death and extinction?
These three questions form the pillars of philosophy:
Metaphysics, Ethics, and Salvation.
The book tells us that ancient Greek philosophy was the first to bridge the gap between reason and nature. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle taught that understanding the world requires logic and deep reflection.
Then came the Christian era, which infused philosophy with faith, spirituality, and the idea of divine love. This period taught humans that they are not alone, but connected to the concept of God.
As time changed, Humanism rose to prominence. Now the human being became the centre — shaping destiny through reason, experience, and freedom.
Then came thinkers like Nietzsche, who proclaimed:
“God is dead!”
Meaning that old moral foundations could no longer support modern life, and we must create meaning for ourselves. From here, philosophy entered a new realm — the era we now call postmodernism, where certainty has faded and questions have multiplied.
Today, as human beings find themselves surrounded by artificial intelligence, machines, and the digital world, this book reminds us that the journey of thought is far from over. The real question now is: How do we preserve our humanity in the storm of technology?
According to Luc Ferry, philosophy—like religion—also offers salvation:
but not through God, rather through the human mind, courage, and understanding.
Philosophy says: “Know yourself, and let the light of your own thought set you free.”
For young readers, this book is an invitation to think. It shows that philosophy is not a dry subject, but a relevant, essential, and dynamic discipline. It teaches us to question, to understand, and to grow into better human beings.
In the end, the author leaves us with a message that is simple yet profound:
“Life becomes beautiful only when we are not afraid to think.”