A
Literary Saloon
&
Site of Review.

Trying to meet all your book preview and review needs.



Contents:
Main
the Best
the Rest
Review Index
Links

weblog

crQ
to e-mail us:



In Association with Amazon.com


In association with Amazon.com - UK


In 
Partnerschaft 
mit 
Amazon.de

the Complete Review
the complete review - architecture/philosophy



Socrates' Ancestor

by
Indra Kagis McEwen


general information | review summaries | our review | links | about the author

To purchase Socrates' Ancestor



Title: Socrates' Ancestor
Author: Indra Kagis McEwen
Genre: Essay
Written: 1993
Length: 182 pages
Availability: Socrates' Ancestor - US
Socrates' Ancestor - UK
Socrates' Ancestor - Canada
  • An Essay in Architectural Beginnings

- Return to top of the page -



Our Assessment:

C+ : significant, with interesting ideas, but presentation obscures the ideas and makes the text difficult to follow.

See our review for fuller assessment.



Review Summaries
Source Rating Date Reviewer
J. of Architectural Ed. . 5/1997 Barry Bell
J. of Aesthetics and Art Crit. . Summer/1998 David Goldblatt

- Return to top of the page -



The complete review's Review:

       Indra Kagis McEwen's essay on architectural beginnings is a small book that succinctly presents some fairly big ideas. The most fascinating part of the essay takes as its starting point a fragment by the pre-Socratic philosopher, Anaximander, and uses it and other work attributed to Anaximander in developing a foundation of modern architectural theory and practice. Building up on this she examines other important aspects of Greek culture that have had (and continue to have) an impact and influence on architecture.
       It is an interesting thesis, and Kagis has hit on some very important ideas. Regrettably the book remains that of a specialist, and can be difficult to approach. Her argument relies both on philology and philosophy, and her explanations are not always entirely clear. Nevertheless, it is recommended for anyone with an interest in architecture or early Greek philosophy.

- Return to top of the page -



Links:

Socrates' Ancestor:

- Return to top of the page -



About the Author:

       Indra Kagis McEwen teaches architecture at the National Theatre School of Canada, and at l'Université du Québec à Montréal.

- Return to top of the page -


© 1999-2021 the complete review

Main | the New | the Best | the Rest | Review Index | Links