The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy

by A. A. Long

Overview

The Western tradition of philosophy began in Greece with a cluster of thinkers often called the Presocratics, whose influence has been incalculable. All these thinkers are discussed in this volume both as individuals and collectively in chapters on rational theology, epistemology, psychology, rhetoric and relativism, justice, and poetics. Assuming no knowledge of Greek or prior knowledge of the subject, this volume provides new readers with the most convenient and accessible guide to early Greek philosophy available. Advanced students and specialists will find a conspectus of recent developments in the interpretation of early Greek thought.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521446679
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	06/28/1999
Series:	Cambridge Companions to Philosophy
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	460
Sales rank:	558,769
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 1.02(d)

Table of Contents

1. The scope of early Greek philosophy A. A. Long; 2. Sources Jaap Mansfeld; 3. The beginnings of cosmology Keimpe Algra; 4. The Pythagorean tradition Carl A. Huffman; 5. Heraclitus Edward Hussey; 6. Parmenides and Melissus David Sedley; 7. Zeno Richard D. McKirahan Jr; 8. Empedocles and Anaxagoras: responses to Parmenides Daniel W. Graham; 9. The atomists C. C. W. Taylor; 10. Rational theology Sarah Broadie; 11. Early interest in knowledge J. H. Lesher; 12. Soul, sensation, and thought André Laks; 13. Culpability, responsibility, cause: philosophy, historiography and medicine in the fifth century Mario Vegetti; 14. Rhetoric and relativism: Protagoras and Gorgias Paul Woodruff; 15. Protagoras and Antiphon: Sophistic debates on justice Fernanda DeCleva Caizzi; 16. The poetics of early Greek philosophy Glenn W. Most.

Editorial Reviews

"This is an indispensable aid for both teacher and student in any course devoted to the study of the Presocratics." Review of Metaphysics

"[A] fresh and wide-ranging survey of Presocratic philosophers..." Reference & Research Book News

"The Cambridge Companion to Early Greek Philosophy (ccegp) is recommended especially to undergraduates interested in any aspect of philosophy, graduate students specializing in ancient philosophy, and professional scholars interested in the history of philosophy." Monte Ransome Johnson, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"This Companion does an excellent job of meeting its impossible challenge to be all things to all readers." Phoenix

"This book is a uniformly excellent collection of essays on early Greek philosophy written by an impressive international array of scholarly contributors. This book will be a good resource for teachers when preparing lectures, an excellent supplemental text in a history of classical philosophy course and would benefit a graduate seminar as well." Religious Studies Review

"The volume is, in overall terms, very succesful, with the chapter on sources by Mansfeld and the Bibliography singled out as outstanding, and likely to prove to be of particular interest and usefulness for a good time into the future." Ancient Philosophy

From the Publisher