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The Blackwell Guide to Ancient Philosophy
The Blackwell Guide to Ancient Philosophy provides a comprehensive treatment of the principal figures and movements of philosophy from its origins before Socrates, through the towering achievements of Plato and Aristotle, and into its final developments in late antiquity.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 7, 2003
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Christopher Shields
30 books5 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 6, 2016
This is one of those books that you'd never really "finish" reading. Time to time you'd go back to reread the passages and to refresh your mind. My biggest concern is the title. This is certainly not "ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY!" whaaat? At most its early greek philosophy.
Why? well, it's only greek philosophy, there's no reference to early Persian philosophy, there's little about Hellenistic philosophy... it's mainly about Plato and Aristotle. Socrates is treated as an imaginary person and the only presocratics mentioned are merely "mentioned" and discussed so briefly that does them no justice, such as Anaximander, Parmenides and Zeno of the Eleatic school, Democritus of the Atomists and of course Heraclitus. They take up 1/3 of the book. The rest is Plato and Aristotle. So obviously it's not a guide to Ancient philosophy.
Moreover this is definitely just a Guide. That's what I liked about it actually. You don't see the author trying to push his own interpretations or remarks. He guides you to discover the other side of the dialogues. If you haven't read much greek philosophy, I suggest picking up the primary texts, like early dialogues by Plato rather than getting this. I'd recommend this book to someone who is looking for the next step in their discovery of the greeks after reading the essential dialogues and of course the fragments of early philosophers. Starting with the wonderful Thales : D
It deserves a 5 start but I think the title needs a serious revision.
Why? well, it's only greek philosophy, there's no reference to early Persian philosophy, there's little about Hellenistic philosophy... it's mainly about Plato and Aristotle. Socrates is treated as an imaginary person and the only presocratics mentioned are merely "mentioned" and discussed so briefly that does them no justice, such as Anaximander, Parmenides and Zeno of the Eleatic school, Democritus of the Atomists and of course Heraclitus. They take up 1/3 of the book. The rest is Plato and Aristotle. So obviously it's not a guide to Ancient philosophy.
Moreover this is definitely just a Guide. That's what I liked about it actually. You don't see the author trying to push his own interpretations or remarks. He guides you to discover the other side of the dialogues. If you haven't read much greek philosophy, I suggest picking up the primary texts, like early dialogues by Plato rather than getting this. I'd recommend this book to someone who is looking for the next step in their discovery of the greeks after reading the essential dialogues and of course the fragments of early philosophers. Starting with the wonderful Thales : D
It deserves a 5 start but I think the title needs a serious revision.
April 22, 2010
This book is a little more indepth than the books I've read on the subject. It starts with the first philosophers and their ideas (in a summarized fashion) and goes all the way down to Late Antique philosophy which is the final phase in Ancient Philosophy. It is an enjoyable book and very easy to read and get engrossed into.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews