Ancient Greek Philosophy - Best Secondary Literature (42 books)

Listopia > Ancient Greek Philosophy - Best Secondary Literature

"Ancient Greek Philosophy": So from the very beginning (the Pre-Socratics), all the way into the grey area of post-Socratic "Hellenistic" philosophers.

"Secondary Literature": That means books about the original philosophical texts. I don't really see the point arguing whether Plato's X is better than Aristotle's Y, when they're both essential reading.

A useful resource is this Philosophy Timeline: http://www.philosophypages.com/dy/zt.htm

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1	The Presocratic Philosophers by Geoffrey S. Kirk 4.23 avg rating — 926 ratings score: 300, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
2	The Republic by Plato 3.97 avg rating — 229,565 ratings score: 299, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
3	The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists by Robin Waterfield (Editor / Translator) 3.95 avg rating — 1,012 ratings score: 297, and 3 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
4	A History of Greek Philosophy, Volume 1: The Earlier Presocratics and the Pythagoreans by W.K.C. Guthrie 4.25 avg rating — 173 ratings score: 199, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
5	Early Greek Philosophy by Jonathan Barnes (Translator) 4.07 avg rating — 2,577 ratings score: 197, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
6	The World of Parmenides: Essays on the Presocratic Enlightenment by Karl Popper 4.03 avg rating — 77 ratings score: 195, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
7	The Traveler's Guide to Classical Philosophy by John Charles Addison Gaskin 3.71 avg rating — 51 ratings score: 192, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
8	Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture, 3 Vols by Werner Wilhelm Jaeger 4.59 avg rating — 178 ratings score: 191, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Presocratic Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction by Catherine Rowett 3.68 avg rating — 387 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
9	Lost Masters: Rediscovering the Mysticism of the Ancient Greek Philosophers by Linda Johnsen 4.28 avg rating — 97 ratings score: 190, and 2 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Eureka Man: The Life and Legacy of Archimedes by Alan W. Hirshfeld 3.42 avg rating — 125 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	Protagoras by Daniel Silvermintz 4.50 avg rating — 8 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
11	How to Think Like Socrates: Ancient Philosophy as a Way of Life in the Modern World by Donald J. Robertson (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating — 972 ratings score: 100, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Diogenes of Sinope: The Man in the Tub by Luis E. Navia 3.97 avg rating — 35 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens and the Search for the Good Life by Bettany Hughes 4.02 avg rating — 1,113 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	Apology by Plato 4.19 avg rating — 69,265 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
14	The City and Man by Leo Strauss 4.19 avg rating — 318 ratings score: 99, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	An Introduction to Plato's Republic by Julia Annas 3.62 avg rating — 131 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Philosophy of Epictetus by Theodore Scaltsas (Editor) 4.07 avg rating — 14 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	Beyond Good and Evil by Friedrich Nietzsche 4.03 avg rating — 117,151 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
18	The Other Plato: The Tübingen Interpretation of Plato's Inner-Academic Teachings by Dmitri Nikulin (editor) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 98, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	Cynics by William Desmond 3.94 avg rating — 125 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
22	How Philosophy Became Socratic: A Study of Plato's "Protagoras," "Charmides," and "Republic" by Laurence Lampert 4.47 avg rating — 19 ratings score: 97, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	A History of Greek Philosophy, Volume 2: The Presocratic Tradition from Parmenides to Democritus by W.K.C. Guthrie 4.30 avg rating — 81 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
24	The Music of the Republic: Essays on Socrates' Conversations and Plato's Writings by Eva Brann 4.30 avg rating — 46 ratings score: 96, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics by Anthony A. Long 3.86 avg rating — 162 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
26	Socrates' Second Sailing: On Plato's Republic by Seth Benardete 4.08 avg rating — 36 ratings score: 95, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	A Companion to Socrates by Sara Ahbel-Rappe (Editor) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 6 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Socrates: A Very Short Introduction by C.C.W. Taylor 3.29 avg rating — 597 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
28	Plato's "Laws": The Discovery of Being by Seth Benardete really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 12 ratings score: 94, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Plato's Theory of Ideas by William David Ross 3.80 avg rating — 15 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Reading Plato by Thomas Alexander Szlezák 4.01 avg rating — 77 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
31	Know Thyself: Western Identity from Classical Greece to the Renaissance by Ingrid Rossellini 3.71 avg rating — 158 ratings score: 93, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	A History of Greek Philosophy, Volume 3: The Fifth Century Enlightenment, Part 1: The Sophists by W.K.C. Guthrie 4.08 avg rating — 83 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
34	Dream of Reason: A History of Western Philosophy from the Greeks to the Renaissance by Anthony Gottlieb 4.07 avg rating — 2,076 ratings score: 92, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	A History of Greek Philosophy, Volume 3: The Fifth Century Enlightenment, Part 2: Socrates by W.K.C. Guthrie 4.05 avg rating — 86 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	The Theology of the Early Greek Philosophers by Werner Wilhelm Jaeger 4.22 avg rating — 96 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
36	Travels with Epicurus: A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life by Daniel Klein 3.81 avg rating — 3,639 ratings score: 91, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	A Companion to Plato (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy, Vol. 36) by Hugh H. Benson (Editor) 3.31 avg rating — 13 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
39	Plato and Aristotle by Eric Voegelin 4.51 avg rating — 51 ratings score: 90, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	A Companion to Archaic Greece by Kurt A. Raaflaub (Editor) 4.19 avg rating — 16 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
41	The Death of Socrates by Emily Wilson 3.79 avg rating — 155 ratings score: 89, and 1 person voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars