Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy Books

Book SynopsisCicero's philosophical works are now exciting renewed interest, in part because he provides vital evidence of the views of the (largely lost) Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic age, and partly because of the light he casts on the intellectual life of first century Rome. This edition uses the 1997 Clarendon text by the acclaimed translator P.G. Walsh.Trade ReviewThe translation is both lively and accurate; the introduction is judicious and informative. The notes are especially strong on the identification of the many historical references in the work. * Phronesis *

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Book SynopsisThis book is no less than a guide to the whole of Western philosophy--the ideas that have undergirded our civilization for two-and-a-half thousand years. Anthony Kenny tells the story of philosophy from ancient Greece through the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment into the modern world. He introduces us to the great thinkers and their ideas, starting with Plato, Aristotle, and the other founders of Western thought. In the second part of the book he takes us through a thousand years of medieval philosophy, and shows us the rich intellectual legacy of Christian thinkers like Augustine, Aquinas, and Ockham. Moving into the early modern period, we explore the great works of Descartes, Hobbes, Locke, Leibniz, Spinoza, Hume, and Kant, which remain essential reading today. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Hegel, Mill, Nietzsche, Freud, and Wittgenstein again transformed the way we see the world. Running though the book are certain themes which have been constant concerns of philosophy since its early beginnings: the fundamental questions of what exists and how we can know about it; the nature of humanity, the mind, truth, and meaning; the place of God in the universe; how we should live and how society should be ordered. Anthony Kenny traces the development of these themes through the centuries: we see how the questions asked and answers offered by the great philosophers of the past remain vividly alive today. Anyone interested in ideas and their history will find this a fascinating and stimulating read.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent update on the original. The main advantage of this much fatter version is the direct contact with primary sources that it gives to students ... I have nominated this as the main textbook for the course I teach * Ben Pugh, Cliff College *Table of ContentsPART I: ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY; PART II: MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY; PART III: THE RISE OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY; PART IV: PHILOSOPHY IN THE MODERN WORLD

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Book SynopsisA unique new volume illuminating the philosophy of the ancient Greek and Roman Cynics  The Greek Cynics owned no property and rejected fame and fortune, living almost entirely out of doors while surviving on wild plants and water from natural springs. They promoted ideals such as self-sufficiency, freedom, detachment, shamelessness, and toughness, and their philosophy penetrated not only Greek but also Roman civilization. This unique anthology draws together the writings on and by various Cynic philosophers, from founding figures Antisthenes and Diogenes of Sinope to Hipparchia, one of the few female philosophers in antiquity, and fourth-century Roman emperor Julian the apostate. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers t

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Book SynopsisTHIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU • to appreciate the revolution in thinking brought about by the Ancient Greek philosophers, who sought to make sense of the world through analysis, reasoning and argument • to recognize the key ideas of the most significant philosophers and their contribution to Western thought • to learn about the philosophers’ lives, and their impact on society • to appreciate the value of questioning received wisdom and submitting it to rigorous analysis To live in the modern world is to owe a debt of gratitude to the Ancient Greeks. Ancient Greece was one of the wellsprings of European civilization, and the Greeks were both the pioneers of rigorous analytical thought and the creators of prose and poetry that speak to us over the centuries. Materialism and idealism form the two major strands of Greek philosophy: thinking about the universe, nature and matter; and thinking about humanity, politics, justice, good and evil, and our relationship with the divine. The Greeks were the first to distinguish between myth and philosophy, and to develop a scientific method of enquiry. In ancient Greece ‘natural philosophers’ studied mathematics, physics, logic, cosmology, medicine, Politics, ethics and aesthetics. Democracy, atoms, copycat killings — the Greeks had opinions on these and many more, and their conclusions have often proved prescient. Cynicism and Stoicism are Greek philosophical schools whose names have passed into common parlance. This lucid introduction to Greek philosophy links important ideas to key personalities and places. It shows the development and movement of people and ideas around the Mediterranean world, from the time of the earliest pre Socratic philosophers, through Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and the Sophists to Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the Cynics and the Stoics. Written in a clear and engaging style, it is a fascinating account of the major source of Western culture and today’s knowledge-based society. ACCESS THE WORLD'S PHILOSOPHIES Simple Guides: Philosophy is a series of concise introductions to the major philosophies of the world. Written by experts in the field, these accessible guides offer a fascinating account of the rich variety of arguments ideas and systems of thought articulated by different cultures in the attempt to explore and define the nature of reality, and the meaning, purpose and proper conduct of life. The Simple Guides will appeal to analytical thinkers and spiritual seekers alike. Taken together, they provide a basic introduction to the evolution of human thought, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the world views of different societies, they also enable travellers to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.Table of ContentsThinking and The Greeks - From Mythology to Philosophy - Thinking About the Universe - Pythagoras and Atomists - Thinking for a Living - Socrates - Plato - Aristotle - Cynics, Stoics and Epicureans - What Happened Next

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Book SynopsisProclus'' Elements of Theology is a concise summa of the Neoplatonic system in its fully developed form; and for the student of late Greek thought second in importance only to the Enneads of Plotinus. Professor Dodds has provided a critical text based on a personal examination of some forty manuscripts, together with an English translation and a philosophical and linguistic commentary. First published in 1933, this second edition includes an Appendix of Addenda et Corrigenda and is widely regarded and respected as the definitive edition of the text today.Trade Review'An essential text for Neoplatonism and an outstanding edition.' P. Walcot, Greece & Rome, April 1993

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Book SynopsisFeatures an appendix that contains the fragments of early Greek love poetry which helps the reader appreciate the rich, and perhaps elusive, meaning of eros.Trade ReviewA superb translation that captures the rhetorical brilliance of the Greek. . . . The translation is faithful in the very best sense: it reflects both the meaning and the beauty of the Greek text. . . . The footnotes are always helpful, never obtrusive. A one-page outline is useful since there are no editorial additions to mark major divisions in the dialogue. An appendix containing fragments of early Greek love poetry helps the reader appreciate the rich, and perhaps elusive, meaning of eros. . . . The entire Introduction is crisply written, and the authors' erudition shines throughout, without a trace of pedantry. . . . this is an excellent book that deservedly should find wide circulation for many years to come. --Tim Mahoney, University of Texas at Arlington

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMyles Burnyeat, the Lawrence Professor of Ancient Philosophy at Cambridge, has revised Levett's translation to catch the charm and wit of the original in modern English, and has written a magnificent introduction and commentary of 250 pages that is lucid, rigorous, fair and un-put-downable. --Philip Howard, The Times (London)A masterly contribution to the understanding of the subject in a work of altogether exceptional intelligence. --Sir Hugh Lloyd-Jones, Christ Church, OxfordBurnyeat's introduction to the Theaetetus is easily the best available treatment of the dialogue; it is clear, stimulating, sympathetic but not uncritical, full of novel insights. Students at all levels, including professional philosophers, cannot fail to learn from it, to enjoy it. A real gem. --Gail Fine, Cornell University

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Book SynopsisThe first clear and faithful guide to the timeless, practical teachings of the Stoic philosopher SenecaTrade Review"Reading Breakfast with Seneca is like sitting down for a good cup of coffee with a wise and compassionate friend." -- Eric Weiner, author of The Socrates Express"This book is the perfect antidote to the commercialism and superficial values of modern times. [Fideler] channels Seneca without distortion and makes him accessible to the twenty-first-century reader." -- Robin Waterfield, translator of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus"[A] great introduction to both Seneca and Stoicism and will even help those already familiar with these writings to gain more benefit from them." -- Donald Robertson, author of How to Think Like a Roman Emperor"The most companionable of the new Stoic books." -- Molly Young - The New York Times"In Breakfast with Seneca [David Fideler] explains his habit of poring over the Roman philosopher with his morning coffee and omelette. Writing with charm and clarity, he argues that Seneca’s philosophy can help us ‘live a happy, flourishing life’." -- Emily Thomas - The Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"From the beginning to the end of this compact but lucid book, Becker skillfully brings to life both the arguments and the intuitive appeal of stoicism... In its essentials [the new stoicism] is recognizable, with its particularly astringent rational charm enhanced by Becker's focused and self-disciplined argumentation. Zeno, I suspect, would be pleased."--Brad Inwood, Apeiron "A stimulating discussion of ethics that is free of the jejune or overly technical attitudes characteristic of much current writing on the subject."--Joseph Shea, n.b.: new from The Reader's Catalog

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Book SynopsisWith an Introduction by Jane O'Grady. Translated by Tom Griffith.In Symposium, a group of Athenian aristocrats attend a party and talk about love, until the drunken Alcibiades bursts in and decides to discuss Socrates instead. Symposium gives an unsurpassed picture of the sparkling society that was Athens at the height of her empire. The setting of the other dialogues is more sombre. Socrates is put on trial for impiety, and sentenced to death. Euthyphro discusses the nature of piety, Apology is Socrates' speech in his own defence, Crito explains his refusal to escape punishment, and Phaedo gives an account of Socrates' last day. These dialogues have never been offered in one volume before. Tom Griffith's Symposium has been described as 'possibly the finest translation of any Platonic dialogue'. All the other translations are new.

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Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.The discourses of the great Stoic philosopher Epictetus are regarded as some of the most influential teachings of the ancient world. Born into slavery and sent into exile before setting up a school of philosophy, Epictetus delivered a series of lectures where he argued that true happiness comes only when we learn to distinguish what is within our power and what is beyond our personal control.Using George Long's 1890 translation, this edition includes a selection of Epictetus' key principles, as well as a manual of his core philosophy, the Encheiridion. With clarity, conviction and timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago, these teachings navigate the complexities of the human condition and offer rational guidance for the turmoil of modern life.

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Book SynopsisPresents an account of the author's life in relation to political events of his time; the character and history of his writings and of the Politics in particular; his overall conception of political science; and his impact on subsequent political thought from antiquity to the present.Trade Review"This revised edition of Aristotle's 'Politics' easily establishes it as the best available in English. By offering a longer introductory essay that grapples with the substance of Aristotle's argument, a new index, revamped notes, and - most important - by revising and correcting the text, Carnes Lord has substantially improved what was already a fine rendering of Aristotle's classic account of political science. A great service to students and scholars alike." (Robert C. Bartlett, cotranslator of Aristotle's "Nicomachean Ethics") "Carnes Lord's translation is clearly the best available." (Claremont Review of Books)"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The book offers a new and refreshing approach. It repeatedly calls for more work in various fields, and it should be hoped that scholars do not shy away from taking up the many challenges it raises."--Matthew Neale, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies "Beckwith weaves into Greek Buddha long-standing questions about the origins of Buddhism, contact between Buddhism and ancient Greeks following the incursion of Alexander the Great into Central Asia in the fourth century BCE, and the nature of ethical knowledge... This is excellent scholarship, and Beckwith presents his thesis with skill, insight, and scholarly probity."--ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface vii Acknowledgements xv On Transcription, Transliteration, and Texts xix Abbreviations xxi Prologue: Scythian Philosophy: Pyrrho, the Persian Empire, and India 1 Chapter 1 Pyrrho's Thought: Beyond Humanity 22 Chapter 2 No Differentiations: The Earliest Attested Forms of Buddhism 61 Chapter 3 Jade Yoga and Heavenly Dharma: Buddhist Thought in Classical Age China and India 110 Chapter 4 Greek Enlightenment: What the Buddha, Pyrrho, and Hume Argue Against 138 Epilogue: Pyrrho's Teacher: The Buddha and His Awakening 160 Appendix A The Classical Testimonies of Pyrrho's Thought 180 Appendix B Are Pyrrhonism and Buddhism Both Greek in Origin? 218 Appendix C On the Early Indian Inscriptions 226 Endnotes 251 References 257 Index 269

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is a delight. . . . This should be in the pocket of every lover of Latin literature, and especially of Horace."---Peter Jones, Classics for All"Fantastic . . . a long and wonderfully informed conversation with [Horace]."---Steve Donoghue, Open Letters"[A]n elegant little volume."---Ron Charles, Washington Post"[How to Be Content] shines a light on the philosophical core of the great poet’s [Horace] writing. . . . Stephen Harrison translates excerpts beautifully in modern English."---Steven Gambardella, The Sophist

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Book SynopsisIn the tenth century, an anonymous scholar crafted an Old English version of Saint Augustine’s Soliloquia, which explores the nature of truth and immortality of the soul. This volume presents the first English translation of the complete Old English Soliloquies to appear in more than a century accompanied by a unique edition of Augustine’s work.Trade Review[An] elegant, readable, and accurate translation of the Latin text…This work will prove a boon both to scholars and students of Old English literature. -- Justin Lake * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Kalligas’s commentary deftly summarizes the state of the art for numerous philological and philosophical issues."---Lloyd P. Gerson, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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Book SynopsisShedding new light on the fundamental philosophical problem of time, leading Italian philosopher Giacomo Marramao offers a solution to today's 24/7 culture. If we were asked to name the social syndrome of our age under capitalism, it would no doubt be rush. Intentional animals as we are, we experience the meaningless acceleration of time, which devours instants and misses its target just like its opposite, undue hesitation. For Marramao, rush and slowness or rashness and hesitation are two mirror forms of untimeliness: two unsuitable ways of seizing time. Through engagement with sources including Heidegger, Bergson, Saint Paul the Apostle, Newtonian physics, and postmodern theory, Marramao calls for a change to how we perceive time. Delving into the Greek and Roman concepts of tempus, chronos, and aión, he argues that there should be no opposition between the scientific-objective time and the existential-subjective one. As such, he

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Book SynopsisXenophon's Memorabilia and Apology provide a passionate defence of Socrates against the charges brought against him that lead to his execution. The two texts together provide a moving account of what happened immediately before, during, and after his trial.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Note on the Greek Texts Select Bibliography Abbreviations Chronology Maps MEMORABILIA Book 1 Book 2 Book 3 Book 4 APOLOGY Explanatory Notes Glossary of Greek Terms

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Book SynopsisThe Enchiridion (handbook') of Epictetus is one of the most well-known and best-loved works of ancient Greek literature. Based on the solid theoretical foundation of Stoic thought, this is indeed a highly accessible handbook giving practical advice on how to live a better life. It is as relevant now as ever it was.

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Book SynopsisEnnead VI.4–5, originally written as a single treatise, contains Plotinus’ most general and sustained exposition of the relationship between the intelligible and sensible realms, addressing and coalescing two central issues in Platonism: the nature of the soul–body relationship and the nature of participation. Its main question is, How can soul animate bodies without sharing in their extension? The treatise seems to have had considerable impact: it is much reflected in Porphyry’s important work, Sententiae, and the doctrine of reception according to the capacity of the recipient, for which this treatise is the main source, resonated in medieval thinkers.Trade ReviewThis new English translation of, and commentary on, Plotinus, Ennead VI.4-5, the joint achievement of the Plotinian scholars Eyjólfur K. Emilsson and Steven K. Strange, combines philological rigor with philosophical insight"". - Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Martha C. Nussbaum, Recipient of the 2012 Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences""Nussbaum writes as an advocate [of the Hellenistic philosophers], though not an uncritical one, for even while she admires the seriousness and subtlety with which these philosophers analyze the passions, she allows that there is an unresolvable conflict between the detachment and the intense engagement entailed by their philosophies. The sense that these philosophers still matter, that we can wrangle with them and learn from them, is invigorating."---Richard Jenkyns, New York Times Book Review"Few modern books have done as much as this one promises to do in raising the profile of Hellenistic philosophy. It is constantly gripping and absorbing, written with rare eloquence and containing long stretches of almost lyrical intensity. A literary as well as a philosophical tour de force."---David Sedley, Times Literary Supplement"By turns wise and witty, silly and Socratic, critical and compassionate, Nussbaum proves to be an extraordinarily addictive literary companion…. This is a book to live with."---Peter Green, New Republic"[T]his is a wonderful book, of interest to scholars of ancient philosophy, but also to those interested in medical philosophy and philosophy of mind. It would also be of great interest to those interested in the conception of philosophy as therapy that has grown from studies on Wittgenstein. I can heartily recommend it."---Michael Gillan Peckitt, Metapsychology Online Reviews

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Book SynopsisFicino's commentary on Plato's Timaeus offers the English reader, for the first time, an opportunity to share the insights of this highly influential Renaissance philosopher into one of Plato's most important works. It provides rich source material for those interested in philosophy, the history of cosmic theory, Platonic and Renaissance studies.

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Book Synopsis This volume gathers together the most important evidence about Stoic thought surviving from the ancient world. It is an expanded version of the section on Stoicism in Inwood and Gerson''s Hellenistic Philosophy, consolidating related texts into larger, more continuous selections, adding material on the skeptical attack on Stoicism, and a short section that introduces the reader to some of the more interesting texts on Stoic ethics from the Roman imperial period. Inwood and Gerson provide lucid, accurate translations, an Introduction that sets the works included in historical and philosophical context, a glossary of terms, a glossary of philosophers and philosophical sources, an index of passages translated, and a subject index.

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Book SynopsisThe most comprehensive collection of Neoplatonic writings available in English, this volume provides translations of the central texts of four major figures of the Neoplatonic tradition: Plotinus, Porphyry, Iamblichus, and Proclus.Trade ReviewIn addition to being a wonderful addition to the library of any classicist or historian of philosophy, the book can be used as a challenging text for an undergraduate specialized course in later Greek philosophy and even as a major text in a Graduate course in the same area. The academic world has been well served by this intelligently designed volume.--Joseph A. Novak, Philosophy in ReviewThis is a valuable anthology which makes a selection of key Neoplatonic texts available in new, accurate, and readable translations.--Anne Sheppard, Senior Lecturer in Classics, Royal Holloway, University of London

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Book SynopsisThe aim of this translation of the "Academica" is to render Cicero's treatise on Academic scepticism into readable English for a philosophical audience. To this end, the translator has attempted to preserve consistency in the principal technical terms where English allows it. An English-Latin glossary and an index are included.Trade ReviewBrittain's On Academic Scepticism is more than a translation. It is a thorough introduction to the study of one of Cicero's most important philosophical dialogues, a work which is the key to understanding Hellenistic scepticism and a great deal of the Latin philosophical tradition shaped by Cicero. The translation is sharp and philosophically sensitive without betraying Cicero's elegant style; the Introduction (historical, philosophical, and philological) is compact, lucid, and authoritative. At last this important work is accessible to those who do not read Latin; even those who do will turn to Brittain's book as a fundamental resource for years to come.--Brad Inwood, Canada Research Chair in Ancient Philosophy, University of TorontoA splendid volume. Brittain's translation of the Academica is among the very best recent translations of an ancient philosophical text. This translation, together with the wealth of supplementary material Brittain provides, will allow readers who do not know Latin but are interested in the philosophical problems under discussion in the Academica to engage with Cicero's difficult text.--Casey Perin, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Michael Dirda's Best Books of 2018""Princeton University Press’s new edition of Epictetus’s Encheiridion and selected Discourses, titled How to Be Free: An Ancient Guide to the Stoic Life, is the latest entry in a wave of works, both popular and scholarly, on Stoicism. . . . How to Be Free seeks to bridge the worlds of both kinds of readers. Translated and introduced by Long, a renowned scholar of Stoicism and classics professor at UC Berkeley, the work presents the Greek text and English translation on facing pages. While the original text is, well, Greek to me, Long’s translation is sharp and straightforward — qualities always associated with Epictetus’s teachings."---Robert Zaretsky, Los Angeles Review of Books"A remarkable insight."---Ryan Holiday, Medium"Anybody who is about to go into a party or pool with people that are likely to try our patience can benefit from reading a couple of paragraphs from this book to reaffirm one’s determination to remain stoic in this disheveled wilderness." * Pennsylvania Literary Journal *"Any book that offers Stoic wisdom, whether diluted or updated, translated or condensed into bullet points, is meeting a perennial human need."---Rachel Hadas, Hudson Review

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Book SynopsisA timely book which makes an important intervention in contemporary feminist theory. It uses an original methodology in "stealing" four figures from ancient Greek texts and reinterpreting them using theories of sexual difference. It will be welcomed by students and scholars in a wide range of disciplines.Trade Review"Now, with the publication, in an excellent translation, of Adriana Cavarero's In Spite of Plato, the important contribution of Italian feminist thought to a feminine "rewriting" of Western philosophy can begin to be fully appreciated, since in her path-breaking work on Plato, Cavarero delineates both the methodology and the subject-matter of a new philosophy ... [with] great elegance and insight ... In Spite of Plato introduces the English-speaking world to a major feminist thinker, whose ideas seem certain to engender heated discussion among philosophers as well as feminists." Times Literary Supplement "There is much challenge and interest in the four closely focused essays of which her book consists ... lively writing." Times Higher Education Supplement "Insightful glimpses into ancient Greek texts ... the most impressive thing about it ... is the completeness of the author's vision." The Heythrop Journal "This short, but rich and unsettling book eventually made a far more powerful impression on me than I had expected ... this is a book of unusual depth and originality." Women's Philosophy Review "With few translations available, Italian feminist philosophy has received little attention in the Anglophone world. This welcome addition helps redress that situation ... there is much in Cavarero's book which ought to make the non-feminist mainstream of philosophy sit up and take notice too." Radical Philosophy "This book is an important development in the theory of sexuate difference ... as all feminists live under the dying light of Plato's sun there is good reason to read 'In Spite of Plato'." Literature and TheologyTable of ContentsForeword by Rosi Braidotti. Translator's Note. Introduction. 1. Penelope. 2. The Maidservant from Thrace. 3. Demeter. 4. Diotima. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Drawing on his extensive experience as a scholar and teacher of classical rhetoric, May (classics, St. Olaf College) brings together excerpts from Cicero's extensive contribution to rhetorical theory and practice to examine the theme 'how to win an argument.' One cannot find a better guide than Cicero... A delightful and accessible foray into an enduring, relevant art."--ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface vii Cicero's Life: A Brief Sketch xiii How to Win an Argument 1 The Origins of Eloquent and Persuasive Speech 1 Nature, Art, Practice 1 Rhetoric and Truth 8 The Parts of Rhetoric, or Activities of the Orator 12 Invention: Identifying and Classifying the Question at Issue According to the Stance of Argument, and Discovering the Sources of Proof 13 Arrangement 40 Style 69 Memory 103 Delivery 110 The Value of Imitating Good Models of Speaking 118 The Value of Writing to Prepare for Effective Speaking 122 The Requirements and Education of the Ideal Speaker 126 A Ciceronian Cheat Sheet for Effective Speaking 135 Latin Texts 141 Glossary 223 Further Reading 243 Text Credits 247

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Book SynopsisMarsilio Ficino, the Florentine scholar-philosopher-magus, was largely responsible for the Renaissance revival of Plato. His commentaries remained the standard guide to the philosopher’s works for centuries. Vanhaelen’s new translation of Parmenides makes this monument of metaphysics accessible to the modern student.Trade ReviewFicino’s focus was on the writings of Plato, which were the subject of his study, his translation, and his extensive commentary. One of the most extensive of those commentaries—on Plato’s Parmenides—is now one of the most recent additions to Harvard’s superb ongoing I Tatti Renaissance Library. In a two-volume accomplishment all the more astounding for being conducted so unassumingly, Maude Vanhaelen has taken Ficino’s 1496 edition of the commentary on Parmenides, regularized its usages, combed out its typos, modernized its spellings, and thereby produced the single finest scholarly version of this long and problematic work yet made… Thanks to Maude Vanhaelen and the I Tatti Library, we can now study Ficino’s epic Parmenides commentary as it should be studied: with a clear, nailed-down text, a fine English translation, and some wide-ranging, hard-working notes. Renaissance scholars—that tiny, hard-drinking enclave—will rightly rejoice. -- Steve Donoghue * Open Letters Monthly *

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Book Synopsis"Meno (Second Edition)".Trade ReviewFine translation, good notes--inexpensive, too!--D.A. Rohatyn, University of San Diego

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Book SynopsisThis new translation of Aristotle's Politics is a model of accuracy and consistency and fits seamlessly with the translator's Nicomachean Ethics, allowing the two to be read together, as Aristotle intended. Sequentially numbered endnotes provide the information most needed at each juncture, while a detailed Index of Terms indicates places where focused discussion of key notions occurs. A general Introduction prepares the reader for the work that lies ahead, explaining what sort of work it is and what sort of evidence it relies on.Trade Review"David Reeve's new translation of the Politics is certain to become the primary and indispensable tool for anyone undertaking a careful study of Aristotle's great work. Newcomers to this treatise as well as advanced scholars will learn enormously from the Introduction, extensive notes, and detailed index." —Richard Kraut, Northwestern University"C. D. C. Reeve's study of Aristotle's Politics (translation with introduction, hundreds of notes, and a detailed index of terms) does justice to Aristotle's practical philosophy as a whole in an exceptional way. . . . [Far] from being a simple revision of his previous work (Hackett, 1998) [it] provides us with a totally fresh English text in harmony with his recent translation of the Nicomachean Ethics (Hackett, 2014). . . . Among the merits of the edition is Reeve's philosophically illuminating Introduction [which] attempts to situate politics within the framework of Aristotelian sciences. . . . It is a great merit of Reeve's Translation and Commentary that his own views are confined to his Introduction. In his sequentially numbered endnotes we most often hear Aristotle's own voice and not a commentary that might have promoted partial interpretations. Apart from the quotation of a wide range of passages from the Aristotelian corpus, the reader will also find clarifications providing her with the assistance necessary to find her own way in the text. . . . In general, comparing the new translation to the Greek text one can hardly fail to recognize that it attains an admirable balance between fidelity and smoothness: though following the syntax of the Greek text, it remains fluent and readable. . . . In a nutshell, Reeve's new translation and commentary is a masterful work. Both students who wish to study the Politics and advanced scholars will greatly profit from it." —Vasia Vergouli, University of Patras, in Bryn Mawr Classical Review

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Book SynopsisThe influence of Aristotle, the prince of philosophers, on the intellectual history of the West is second to none. In this book Jonathan Barnes examines Aristotle''s scientific researches, his discoveries in logic and his metaphysical theories, his work in psychology and in ethics and politics, and his ideas about art and poetry, placing his teachings in their historical context. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. THE MAN AND HIS WORK; 2. A PUBLIC FIGURE; 3. ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCHES; 4. COLLECTING FACTS; 5.THE PHILOSOPHICAL BACKGROUND; 6. THE STRUCTURE OF THE SCIENCES; 7. LOGIC; 8. KNOWLEDGE; 9. IEGAL AND ACHIEVEMENT; 10. REALITY; 11.CHANGE; 12 CAUSES; 13. EMPIRICISM; 14. ARISTOTLE'S WORLD-PICTURE; 15. PSYCHOLOGY; 16. EVIDENCE; 17. TELEOLOGY; 18. PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY; 19. THE ARTS; 20. AFTERLIFE; CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE; FURTHER READING; REFERENCES; INDEX

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Book SynopsisTaking the form of a dialogue between Socrates, Gorgias, Polus and Callicles, GORGIAS debates perennial questions about the nature of government and those who aspire to public office. Are high moral standards essential or should we give our preference to the pragmatist who gets things done or negotiates successfully? Should individuals be motivated by a desire for personal power and prestige, or genuine concern for the moral betterment of the citizens? These questions go to the heart of Athenian democratic principles and are more relevant than ever in today''s political climate.Table of ContentsGorgiasAcknowledgmentsReference System Used in this EditionChronolgyIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the TextGorgiasA: Dialogue with GorgiasB: Dialogue with PolusC: Dialogue with CalliclesNotesGlossary of Greek TermsIndex

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