The Fates of the Wise

This publication presents human thought and philosophy in a popularly accessible format, not just as a love for wisdom, but also offering the stories of some of the most significant thinkers in European history, such as Pythagoras, Socrates, Giordano Bruno, Francis Bacon, François Marie Voltaire, and others. In an engaging way, it explores twenty-five centuries of questions about the foundation and meaning of life and the world, along with the search for answers to them. It also delves into the private and public lives of the heroes on this long journey full of searching, great struggles, victories, and defeats. The book is primarily aimed at secondary school students and teachers, as well as anyone interested in the history of human thought. Now in its sixth edition, it is equipped with a wealth of illustrative documentary material, a small gallery of famous philosophers, a chronological overview of world history, and also features the most famous and interesting aphorisms, maxims, and quotes from well-known thinkers.

Doc. PhDr. Jan Halada, CSc. (b. 1942), lectures at Charles University in Prague, at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Communication Studies and Journalism, where he focuses mainly on publishing issues, the theory and practice of publishing, the history of publishing, and non-fiction. He also lectures at other universities, specialising in the social sciences, particularly philosophy and history. He is a member of the Obec spisovatelů (Czech Writers' Association), vice-chairman of the Klub autorů literatury faktu (Club of Non-Fiction Authors), and a member of scientific institutions, editorial boards, and literary and cultural organisations and societies. He is the author of many books, e.g., Čítanka z dějin filozofie (A Reader in the History of Philosophy, Prague 1979), Osvícenství – věk rozumu (The Enlightenment – The Age of Reason, Prague 1984), Něžná revoluce v pražských ulicích (The Velvet Revolution on Prague Streets, Prague 1991), co-author of the book Fotbalové kluby celého světa (Football Clubs of the World, Prague 1992), the four-volume Lexikon české šlechty (Lexicon of Czech Nobility, Prague 1992 to 1998), Člověk a kniha (Man and Book, Prague 1993), Výstaviště v srdci Evropy (Exhibition Grounds in the Heart of Europe, Prague 1997), co-author of the five-volume Galerie nesmrtelných (Gallery of the Immortals, Třebíč 1998–2001), co-author and editor of Encyklopedie praktické žurnalistiky (Encyclopaedia of Practical Journalism, Prague 1999–2008), Encyklopedie českých nakladatelství 1949–2006 (Encyclopaedia of Czech Publishers 1949–2006, Prague 2007), and many anthologies, publishing and readership research studies, etc. He has also contributed as an author or editor to encyclopaedic projects, such as the ten-volume edition of Universum, Česko, Moderní oxfordský slovník XX. století (Modern Oxford Dictionary of the 20th Century), Encyklopedie Larousse (Larousse Encyclopaedia), etc. He is also the editor of the prestigious Polozapomenuté války (Half-Forgotten Wars) series.

He is regularly featured in encyclopaedias and dictionaries, such as Kdo je kdo (Who's Who), Slovník českých filosofů (Dictionary of Czech Philosophers), Obce spisovatelů (Czech Writers' Association), Klubu autorů literatury faktu (Club of Non-Fiction Authors), etc.