Roman Philosophy

The idea of sexual fluidity may seem new, but it is at least as old as the ancient Greeks, who wrote about queer experiences with remarkable frankness, wit, and insight. How to Be Queer is an infatuating collection of these writings about desire, love, and lust between men, between women, and between humans and gods, in lucid and lively new translations.

Stoicism is called the philosophical doctrine that practiced mastery of the passions that disturb life using virtue and reason; as such, its purpose was to achieve happiness and wisdom regardless of comfort, material goods, and fortune. Hence, it also designates a certain moral attitude related to strength and equanimity in character.

If you want to discover the captivating history of Spartacus, then pay attention.... Almost 2,100 years ago, a gladiator walked out of the arena. And he never walked back into it. Spartacus, a Thracian whose early life is hidden in the mists of history, is one of the most infamous figures of antiquity. Perhaps the most famous gladiator of all, parts of Spartacus’ story inspired elements of the award-winning film Gladiator (2000).

Unlock the Secrets of Ancient Wisdom: Imagine a world where philosophy isn't just an abstract exercise but a practical guide to life—a world where science and ethics converge to illuminate the path to a good life. Posidonius for Beginners: The Philosopher Who Merged Science with Stoicism takes you on a captivating journey through the life and thought of one of history’s most innovative minds. Are you fascinated by the intersection of reason and reality? Do you seek wisdom that has withstood the test of time? Would you like to understand how ancient insights can solve modern problems? ...

Escritas em grego pelo único imperador romano que também era filósofo, sem intenção de publicação, as Meditações de Marco Aurélio oferecem ao ouvinte uma série notável de reflexões espirituais desafiadoras e exercícios desenvolvidos à medida que o imperador lutava para entender a si mesmo e dar sentido ao universo.

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus never intended his collection of personal writings to be published, but it has become the foremost work of Stoic philosophy and advice to survive from ancient times.

Dialogul Despre viaţă fericită este despre Plăcere. Şi o combate. De ce? Ca să nu ne combată ea. Plăcerea dispare imediat ce este atinsă, iar dacă noi ne vom ghida după ea, rătăcirea este sigură. Plăcerea să ne fie un însoţitor, nu călăuză. Să nu ne conducă, ci să ne urmărească.

Plato’s dialogues frequently cover several topics and show their connection to each other. The "Phaedrus" is a model of that skill because of its seamless progression from examples of speeches about the nature of love to mythical visions of human nature and destiny to the essence of beauty and, finally, to a penetrating discussion of speaking and writing. It ends with an examination of the love of wisdom as a dialectical activity in the human mind.

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.

Musonius Rufus (c. AD 30–100) was one of the four great Roman Stoic philosophers, the other three being Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Musonius’ pupil Epictetus. During his life, Musonius’ Stoicism was put to the test, most notably during an exile to Gyaros, a barren island in the Aegean Sea.

"Încercat-am sa înteleg de unde vin lacrimile si m-am oprit la sfinti. Sa fie ei responsabili de stralucirea lor amara? Cine ar sti? Se pare însa ca lacrimile sunt urmele lor; dar fara ei nu stiam ca plângem din regretul paradisului. As vrea sa vad o singura lacrima înghitita de pamânt... Toate apuca, pe cai necunoscute noua, în sus. Numai durerea precede lacrimile. Sfintii n-au facut altceva decât sa le reabiliteze." (Emil CIORAN)

Thomas Mann nannte ihn seinen "Wirklichen Geheimen Rat" und kreierte nach ihm seinen Doktor Faustus. Theodor W. Adorno gilt als einer der bedeutendsten deutschsprachigen Philosophen nach Nietzsche.

While medicine and science have obviously changed enormously since the classical world, and some Greco-Roman beliefs about diet now appear hilariously off the mark, How to Eat reveals that much of their advice still resonates—and all of it is fascinating.

The second-century Greek physician Galen—the most famous doctor in antiquity after Hippocrates—is a central figure in Western medicine. A talented doctor, surgeon, writer, philosopher, teacher, pharmacologist, and inventor, Galen attended the court of Marcus Aurelius, living through outbreaks of plague that devastated the Roman Empire. He also served as a physician for professional gladiators. In writings that provided the foundation of Western medicine up to the nineteenth century, Galen created a unified account of health and disease.

Aristotle was the third key figure among the philosophers of Ancient Greece, after Socrates and Plato. Here, extensive sections of the main works for which he is still respected are given, following accessible introductions setting the scene.

Explore the captivating history of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful forces the world has ever seen. But this isn’t just the story of conquest or the incredible system of institutions that made it possible. This is the story of the fascinating men and women who gave the empire its characteristic charm. This is also the story of the most important people and events between two crucial events: the rise of Augustus in the first century BC and the final sack of Rome in the late fifth century AD.

The dramatic nature of Plato’s dialogues is delightfully evident in the "Symposium." The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at Agathon's house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy. With wit and insight, they each present their ideas about love - from Erixymachus’s scientific naturalism to Aristophanes' comic fantasy. The unexpected arrival of Alcibiades breaks the spell cast by Diotima’s ethereal climb up the staircase of love to beauty itself.

The original Latin name of this important essay by Seneca, written around 60 CE, was De Beneficiis, which is why it is generally translated as ‘On Benefits'. However, it is more usefully titled ‘On Favours', because this is what it is essentially about: the giving and receiving of favours, with all the implications of such transactions.

Scaevola, vieillard et augure, rapporte à Cicéron une conversation tenue avec Laelius et Fannius sur l'amitié. Cicéron écrit alors un traité où se mêlent dialogues et récits sur le sens que doit avoir l'amitié, et la conduite qu'elle dicte aux hommes qui se réclament d'elle. Ce texte, écrit en 44 avant J.-C., s'inspire de la philosophie stoïcienne, d'Aristote et de Théophraste, et montre toute la force et la vertu qu'il y a à nourrir et choyer ses amitiés.

¿Cómo vivir una vida feliz? Hace más de dos mil años, el filósofo griego Epicuro ofreció una respuesta simple: lo único que realmente necesitamos es placer. Hoy tendemos a asociar la palabra «epicúreo» con el exceso indulgente y el simple disfrute de la comida y el vino, pero el hedonismo ligero y la autocomplacencia decadente están a años luz de la vida placentera que perseguían Epicuro y sus seguidores, más preocupados por los placeres mentales y por eludir el dolor incluso en los tiempos difíciles.