Ancient Greek Philosophy

What is virtue? What is moderation? What is justice? What is courage? What is good? What is piety? Socrates thought that understanding the perspectives of others on these six great questions would help him become a more excellent human being.

The world's great philosophers have always wrestled with the crucial questions about human nature and the world we live in. A Short History of Philosophy takes you on an entertaining and informative journey through the landscape of western philosophy from Plato to Jean-Paul Sartre. Whether discussing the origins of metaphysics, the merits of idealism, or the questions raised by existentialism, Peter Gibson brings to life the ideas of these great thinkers and carefully explains their reasoning in straightforward, easy-to-understand language.

The greatest philosopher who ever lived. A dissolute tyrant in need of an education. What could possibly go wrong? Plato was the most brilliant thinker of his age. Head of the Academy in Athens, friend of the best minds of his generation, his philosophy was famous across the Greek world. But would he ever get the chance to try his ideas out?

Through his own writings and inspiration of Aristotle and countless others, Plato continues to influence every area of philosophic thought, to say nothing of his enormous influence on Christian theology. His dramatic dialogues, including Republic, the monumental treatise on the ideal state, render him one of the greatest of Greek literary geniuses. In this concise analysis, eminent Plato scholar A. E. Taylor examines the philosopher's theory of knowledge and doctrine of ideas; the ideal of the philosopher-king; the social system advocated in Republic; judgments on democracy; and belief in the immortality of the soul. Also considered: Plato's relationship with his master, Socrates; contribution to the idea of university education; attack on art; abstention from public life; anticipation of Copernicus. Taylor also mentions historical misunderstandings of the one he deems the most original and influential of all philosophers.

No direct explanation is given for the origin and nature of the luminous bodies, the sun, the planets, and the stars. Because the Sumerians regarded the moon-god, who went by the names Sin and Nanna, as the son of the air-god Enlil, it does not seem unreasonable to suggest that they saw the moon as a bright, air-like body fashioned from the atmosphere. As the sun-god Utu and the Venus goddess Inanna are always referred to as children of the moon-god, these luminous bodies were probably imagined as having come from the moon after the latter had been formed from the atmosphere.

Theophrastus' Characters is a joyous festival of fault-finding: a collection of thirty closely observed personality portraits, defining the full spectrum of human flaws, failings, and follies. With piquant details of speech and behavior taken straight off the streets of ancient Athens, Theophrastus gives us sketches of the mean, vile, and annoying that are comically distorted yet vividly real. Enlivened by Pamela Mensch's fresh translation, Theophrastus' Characters transports us to a world populated by figures of flesh and blood, not bronze and marble.

Greek myths and legends have inspired men and women around the world for hundreds of years. The stories of Apollo, Perseus, Achilles, and others have sustained the imaginations of old and young alike, even into the present. In fact, characters of Greek myth and legend have found their way into mainstream culture in the form of popular television and film characters. Greek mythology was so influential that even formed the basis of Roman myth. Here, you will be exposed to the exciting tales of gods and heroes that formed the canon of the ancient Greek religion.

Platons Dialoge gehören in philosophischer wie auch in literarischer Hinsicht unzweifelhaft zu den großen kulturellen Hervorbringungen des alten Griechenlands. Ihr Einfluss auf das Denken und auf das, was wir heute allgemein unter Philosophie verstehen, kann kaum überschätzt werden. Zentrale Themen der platonischen Philosophie wie die Frage nach dem Guten und die Frage, wie man auf zwingend richtige Gründe abgestütztes Wissen erlangt, haben mehr als nur Akzente in der abendländischen Geistesgeschichte hinterlassen.

Politics is the second half of a single treatise by Aristotle (384 B.C.E - 322 B.C.E.), Ethics being the first. Both deal with one and the same subject: what Aristotle calls the philosophy of human affairs. He also refers to it as political science and social science. Aristotle collected and studied the constitutions of over 150 city states before writing his Politics.

In this accessible and beautiful book, Yen Ooi explains the various facets of Rén and explores how this philosophy applies to everything from our relationship with ourselves and the people in our lives, to how we relate to society and the wider world. She shows us how, using the basic principles of Rén and through simple changes to our lives, we can connect better with friends, family, and colleagues, become helpful members of society, and find fulfillment in ideas of community, justice, morality, and compassion.

So sit back, relax, and perhaps pour yourself a drink or light up a cigar if that's your preference. Join the author on this thought-provoking exploration, where the wisdom of ancient philosophies meets the challenges of the 21st century. Stoic Taoism offers a unique perspective that will inspire you to find your own truth and embrace a fulfilling life in today's fast-paced society.

Brother Stewart sets out to prove that ancient civilization has an important role to play in the overall mythology and history of Freemasonry. While other writers on this topic have focused on religious and initiatory similarities, Stewart turns his attention to archeological marvels in order to prove that there must have been an accompanying philosophical and intellectual aspect to these great civilizations. As such, he also touches on Pythagoras and discusses the Neoplatonists at length.

What’s the big idea? Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius believed that in a palace or a soldiers’ camp one can live a life free of envy and desire, neither pursuing pleasure nor fearing pain as one performs the duties life has assigned. I have worked to make his Meditations as understandable as possible. By the end of the book, the emperor’s philosophy will be crystal clear. So please travel back almost 2,000 years ago and join Marcus Aurelius as sits in his camp in the evening meditating on life.

"On Youth and Old Age" is one of the short treatises that make up Aristotle's Parva Naturalia. He compares the temperament of youth with that of old age, and considers middle age the best of all conditions.

Nikos Pappas deciphers the teachings of foundational Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and shows you how their principles can revolutionize your everyday life. From ethical dilemmas and personal growth to the quest for a fulfilling life, this book offers practical insights for anyone looking to navigate the modern world with the wisdom of the ancients.

How did the ancient people of the small, rocky land of Greece have so much influence on the way we think today? The Greeks set us on the path of questioning nature, truth, and humanity. What made the Greeks such a questioning people? We still benefit from this unsolved mystery, and like the Greeks, we're still asking why.

In the third century BC, Stoicism arose in response to and under the influence of these older schools, combining many of the best theories from each into a more cohesive whole. With a greater flexibility and more practical application to everyday life, Stoicism quickly became a very popular school of thought, a growth made exponential by its introduction to the Romans.

"Me esfuerzo por conducir lo divino que hay en mí a lo divino que hay en el universo" fueron las palabras postreras de un filósofo hierático y reservado como un oráculo, seguidor de Platón. La identidad con lo divino es un caro anhelo para los místicos de todas las épocas y tradiciones culturales, incluyendo los místicos occidentales cristianos. El pensamiento de Plotino sería estimado considerablemente por filósofos posteriores, incluyendo a los padres de la Iglesia Católica como por ejemplo el célebre San Agustín.

We might think we are through with the past, but the past isn't through with us. Tragedy permits us to come face to face with the things we don't want to know about ourselves, but which still make us who we are. It articulates the conflicts and contradictions that we need to address in order to better understand the world we live in. A work honed from a decade's teaching at the New School, where Critchley on Tragedy is one of the most popular courses, Tragedy, the Greeks and Us is a compelling examination of the history of tragedy.

More than two thousand years ago Stoicism revealed a way of living with less suffering and more happiness. Even though the Ancient Stoics lived a long time ago they had startling insights into the human condition which have lasted until this day. Stoicism sought answers to questions such as "how can I be more happy?" or "what is the purpose of life?" and much more. Stoicism can help us put things into perspective, let go of worry, overcome adversity, and improve our overall experience of life.