Ancient Philosophy

Step Into the Mind of Ancient China’s Boldest Philosopher What if the key to solving today’s biggest challenges—inequality, conflict, and leadership—lay buried in the teachings of a man who lived over 2,000 years ago? Mozi for Beginners: Foundations of Mohism and Its Legacy introduces you to the revolutionary ideas of Mozi, the thinker who defied tradition, rejected privilege, and offered a bold vision of universal love and practical governance. Why This Book Matters to You In a time when society often feels divided, Mozi’s philosophy reminds us of the power of impartiality, ...

Unlock the mysteries of the ancient world with "Exploring Gnosticism: Sethian and Pistis Sophia Perspectives." This dual guidebook is your key to understanding the profound teachings of Sethian Gnosticism and the enigmatic text of the Pistis Sophia. Whether you're a seasoned seeker or a curious beginner, this book offers a transformative journey into the heart of Gnostic wisdom. Discover the Secrets Within: Ancient Wisdom Unveiled: Dive deep into the spiritual teachings of Sethian Gnosticism and uncover the hidden messages within the Pistis Sophia. Path to Enlightenment: Follow a structured...

"It takes an entire lifetime to learn how to die", wrote the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC-65 AD). He counseled readers to "study death always", and took his own advice, returning to the subject again and again in all his writings, yet he never treated it in a complete work. How to Die gathers in one volume, for the first time, Seneca's remarkable meditations on death and dying. Edited and translated by James S. Romm, How to Die reveals a provocative thinker who speaks with a startling frankness about the need to accept death or even, under certain conditions, to seek it out.

Unlock the wisdom of the ages with "Philosophical Pioneers: Introducing Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle." This captivating 3-in-1 volume is your ultimate guide to understanding the foundational thoughts that shaped Western philosophy. Discover the Art of Inquiry Dive into the world of Socrates, whose relentless questioning led to profound insights about ethics, justice, and human nature. Learn how to think critically and engage in meaningful dialogue through his method of dialectic. Explore the Realm of Ideas Journey with Plato as he unveils the world of forms, the nature of reality, and the...

Lessons from Marcus Aurelius: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life What can a Roman Emperor from 2,000 years ago teach us about resilience, discipline, and inner peace? Marcus Aurelius, one of the greatest Stoic philosophers, left behind Meditations, a collection of profound insights on how to navigate life's struggles with wisdom and strength. In Strength in the Storm, we explore his most powerful teachings and how they apply to modern challenges—stress, success, adversity, and personal growth. This book distills 25 key Stoic lessons, revealing how to cultivate mental clarity, emotional ...

Unlock the secrets of skepticism with a journey that spans millennia. "Cynicism for Beginners: From Ancient Greece to Modern Times" is your gateway to understanding one of philosophy's most enduring and provocative perspectives. Whether you’re a seasoned philosopher or a curious newcomer, this book promises to enlighten, challenge, and inspire. Dive into the Origins: Step back into Ancient Greece, where it all began with the audacious Diogenes and his contemporaries. Discover how these early cynics boldly questioned societal norms, setting the stage for a movement that would influence ...

One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life. In A Guide to the Good Life, William B. Irvine plumbs the wisdom of Stoic philosophy, one of the most popular and successful schools of thought in ancient Rome, and shows how its insight and advice are still remarkably applicable to modern lives. In A Guide to the Good Life, Irvine offers a refreshing presentation of Stoicism, showing how this ancient philosophy can still direct us toward a better life.

Can jokes win a hostile room, a hopeless argument, or even an election? You bet they can, according to Cicero, and he knew what he was talking about. One of Rome's greatest politicians, speakers, and lawyers, Cicero was also reputedly one of antiquity's funniest people. After he was elected commander-in-chief and head of state, his enemies even started calling him "the stand-up Consul". How to Tell a Joke provides a lively new translation of Cicero's essential writing on humor alongside that of the later Roman orator and educator Quintilian.

In a world where social media, online relationships, and relentless self-absorption threaten the very idea of deep and lasting friendships, the search for true friends is more important than ever. In this short book, famous Roman politician and philosopher Cicero offers a compelling guide to finding, keeping, and appreciating friends. With wit and wisdom, Cicero teaches not only how to build friendships but also why they must be a key part of our lives. For, as Cicero says, life without friends is not worth living.

For nearly 2,500 years, students, politicians, political thinkers, and military leaders have read the eloquent and shrewd speeches in Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War for profound insights into military conflict, diplomacy, and the behavior of people and countries in times of crisis. How to Think about War presents the most influential and compelling of these speeches in an elegant new translation by classicist Johanna Hanink, accompanied by an enlightening introduction.

This book is the second in my series on "5 Lessons" from famous writers. The first book in the 5 Lessons series is 5 Lessons from Augustine published in 2011 and based on the Confessions of St. Augustine. This second book 5 Lessons from Seneca is based on five of the Stoic philosopher Seneca's Moral Letters (also known as the Letters on Ethics or Moral Epistles). It discusses shrewd and practical lessons on the passage of time, on friendship, on anxiety, on courage, and on aging. For further insight on Seneca, see Seneca and Roman Slavery Under Nero's Rule (2022) also by Oswald Sobrino at ...

McKinley introduces his readers to over thirty authors of the ancient classics, illuminating who they were, the times they lived in, and their works that have come down to us through the millennia. In the process, we are introduced to the world-changing historical events of antiquity from the Greco-Persian Wars to the centuries of conquests that built the Roman Empire. Rather than reading second-hand accounts, we share the experience through the words of the men who lived and wrote this history, from Thucydides to Julius Caesar. We read multiple original accounts of decisive events such as ...

If recent history has taught us anything, it's that sometimes the best guide to leadership is the negative example. But that insight is hardly new. Nearly 2,000 years ago, Suetonius wrote Lives of the Caesars, perhaps the greatest negative leadership book of all time. In How to Be a Bad Emperor, Josiah Osgood provides crisp new translations of Suetonius's briskly paced, darkly comic biographies of the Roman emperors Julius Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, and Nero. Entertaining and shocking, these ancient anti-role models show how power inflames leaders' worst tendencies.

Step into the world where philosophy wasn’t just a subject—it was a way of life. Where the greatest minds of antiquity collided, and from that clash of ideas, the foundations of Western thought were forged. Philodemus and Sextus: A Dual Exploration of Ancient Thought offers you a front-row seat to the intellectual revolution that bridged Greek wisdom and Roman power. Uncover the timeless teachings of Philodemus, the philosopher who seamlessly wove the intricate tapestry of Greek philosophy into the heart of Roman culture. His Epicurean insights—centered on the pursuit of happiness, ...

Unlock the secrets of ancient wisdom with "Laozi and Liezi: Essential Teachings of Daoism," a comprehensive guide that brings together the profound insights of two of Daoism's most revered sages. This unique volume offers an accessible introduction to the philosophies of Laozi and Liezi, providing practical guidance for living a life of balance, harmony, and inner peace. Dive Deep into Daoist Philosophy: Laozi's Timeless Wisdom: Discover the transformative power of the "Tao Te Ching," where Laozi's teachings reveal the path to living in harmony with the natural world. Liezi's Engaging ...

All of us are faced countless times with the challenge of persuading others, whether we're trying to win a trivial argument with a friend or convince our coworkers about an important decision. Instead of relying on untrained instinct - and often failing as a result - we'd win more arguments if we learned the timeless art of verbal persuasion, or rhetoric.

The Fourth Initiation explores the esoteric aspects of Self-Development. The Fourth Initiation reveals The Four Grammar of self-development through the four dimensions of geometry and its numerous iterations in esoteric traditions and initiatory systems. What is Four Grammar? Four Grammar is the esoteric translation and comprehension of The Tetragrammaton as a universal initiation lesson towards consciousness expansion. The Fourth Initiation is the story of consciousness development told through the universal ideas of great wisdom teachers. Self-development inspiration and visualization ...

In a world filled with stress, uncertainty, and emotional turmoil, how can we cultivate true inner peace? _Stoicism for Resilience_ offers a powerful answer by reviving the ancient wisdom of Stoic philosophy and applying it to modern life. This practical and insightful guide explores how timeless Stoic principles can help you overcome anxiety, manage anger, and break free from the grip of depression. Through easy-to-follow exercises, and actionable strategies, you’ll learn how to: ✅ Shift your mindset to focus on what you can control ✅ Develop emotional resilience in the face of ...

Ancient Olympia is not just the birthplace of the Olympic Games, it is also the origin of philosophical ideas that resonate even today. Combining the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle with the art, archaeology, and history of Ancient Olympia, this short book offers ancient Greek insight on the nature of sport, athletes, and human excellence, as well as the less-expected topics of women, beauty, fairness, and peace.

The Book of Eternal Wisdom Truth endures across generations, spoken in many voices yet pointing to the same eternal source. The Book of Eternal Wisdom is a meditation on that truth, drawing from the well of ancient wisdom to offer guidance for those who seek clarity, virtue, and understanding. Through twelve chapters, this work speaks in the tradition of sacred texts, philosophical inquiry, and poetic reflection. It calls upon the reader to consider the weight of justice, the quiet strength of humility, the measure of true leadership, and the light found in patience and mercy. Each page ...