Ancient Philosophy

by Christopher Shields

In this re-titled and substantially revised update of his Classical Philosophy (2003), Christopher Shields expands his coverage to include the Hellenistic era, and now offers an introduction to more than 1,000 years of ancient philosophy. From Thales and other Pre-Socratics through Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and on to Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Scepticism, Ancient Philosophy traces the important connections between these periods and individuals without losing sight of the novelties and dynamics unique to each. The coverage of Plato and Aristotle also has been expanded. It now includes, for example, updated coverage of Plato's allegories of the cave and the divided line and the metaphor of the sun as well as features of Plato's epistemology. Shields also adds new discussion on Aristotle's theory of virtue and his approach to the Socratic problem of akrasia , or weakness of will. In terms of its structure, Ancient Philosophy is presented so that each philosophical position (1) a brief introduction, (2) a sympathetic review of its principal motivations and primary supporting arguments, and (3) a short assessment, inviting readers to evaluate its plausibility. The result is a book that brings the ancient arguments to life, making the introduction truly contemporary. It will serve as both a first stop and a well visited resource for any student of the subject. Ancient Philosophy offers a vivid picture of the ideas that flourished at philosophy's long birth and considers their relevance, both to the historical development of the Western philosophical tradition, and to philosophy today.

Genres: Philosophy

264 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Karl Hallbjörnsson]

This is a solid textbook, read it for school — contains some funny tongue-in-cheek writing at times and is clearly written. The ancient arguments are presented in a clear and lucid way suitable for beginners.

[James Rivera]

This book gives an excellent introduction to the concepts and debates in ancient philosophy. I found the historical context of the views and debates particularly helpful.

Somewhat unrelated to the purpose of the book, but this is a useful book for Christians seeking to understand the philosophical and conceptual backdrop of the early church.

[haryii]

absolutely brilliant. need to revisit

[Mills College Library]

180 S5552 2012