"A Brief History of Thought" was a best seller in France, where Luc Ferry—a professor of philosophy at the Sorbonne and a one-time minister of education—is a familiar combatant in intellectual debate. The book has now made its way across the Atlantic in translation. Think of it as a fine import, like an austere Burgundy or a fragrant Camembert—an acquired taste that, with some patience, will reward even a reluctant American palate.

Mr. Ferry aims to provide an accessible overview for nonspecialists. Philosophy, he...