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This app could be awesome. It lays out a fun foundation of Western philosophers, but it becomes readily apparent that Eastern European, Asian (Russian, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and East Asian), South American, Australian, and African thinkers are not adequately represented. There are also a few female points of view, but the ratio of thinkers is imbalanced across gender as well. The map views and timeline views are a delight to explore. The ideas tab could try to chronicle thinking under major philosophical labels (e.g. trace the chronology/categorization of thinking in terms like “exitentialism”). Should the representation of thought and those who put forth thought be balanced across the world, I would rate this app higher.

This app certainly peaks my interest, but the way it hangs sends me into a fit of pique. But for free, you really can’t get too upset. Bug: under the philosophers>ideas tab, clicking an idea works, but returning to the list of ideas (Reset button at top right) leads to 20-30 second delays in response or outright crashes, (iPad and iPhone iOS 14.0.1). Weird: in the quizzes, it often feels like I am being tested more on what the philosophers look like than what they espoused. Please put names next to the pictures of the philosophers. Maybe even their dates. It will help build memory linkages to historical development of ideas and the learners initial suppositions on the topic. Shortcomings: the app is very clear that it is about western philosophy. It would be nice for it to expand to be more inclusive. Africa, India, China, and their surrounds also have so much to offer.

This app is wonderful. It provokes ideas when I haven’t got time to read and helps you get a general idea of complex ideas. The only issue that I have is there are a few philosophers, namely Peter Kropotkin and Blaise Pascal, that aren’t included that I would really like to be on the app. I’m not sure how you all prioritize who you add to the app next, but I extend a request to create a page for those two with the hopes that I have a bit of influence in the process.