PresocraticsThe earliest phase of philosophy in Europe saw the beginnings of cosmology and rational theology, metaphysics, epistemology, and ethical and political theory. It saw the development of a wide range of radical and challenging ideas: from Thales' claim that magnets have souls and Parmenides' account that there is only one unchanging existent to the development of an atomist theory of the physical world. This general account of the Presocratics introduces the major Greek philosophical thinkers from the sixth to the middle of the fifth century BC. It explores how we might go about reconstructing their views and understanding the motivation and context for their work as well as highlighting the ongoing philosophical interest of their often surprising claims. Separate chapters are devoted to each of the major Presocratic thinkers, including Xenophanes, Heraclitus, Parmenides, Anaxagoras, Empedocles, Leucippus and Democritus, and an introductory chapter sets the scene by describing their intellectual world and the tradition through which their philosophy has been transmitted and interpreted. With a useful chronology and guide to further reading, the book is an ideal introduction for the student and general reader. |
Contents
reading Presocratic philosophy | 1 |
2 Ionian beginnings | 23 |
3 Xenophanes | 41 |
4 The oracles of Heraclitus | 57 |
5 Parmenides | 77 |
6 Reactions to Parmenides | 103 |
7 Anaxagoras | 119 |
8 Empedocles | 135 |
9 Democritus and Leucippus | 153 |
10 Epilogue | 175 |
Guide to further reading | 183 |
Notes | 185 |
207 | |
219 | |
221 | |
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Common terms and phrases
aēr Anaxagoras Anaximander Anaximander’s Anaximenes Ancient Philosophy apeiron argument Aristotle Aristotle’s arkhē assert Athens atomists atoms and void beliefs Cambridge University Press certainly claim clear colour coming composed cosmic cosmological account cosmology cosmos daimōn Democritean Democritus Democritus and Leucippus Diog Diogenes Diogenes of Apollonia discussion early Greek philosophy Eleatic elements Empedocles enquiry ethical everything evidence example explain fire floruit fragments fundamental Furley further goddess gods Graham hair Heraclitus homogeneous human ideas important indivisible infinite interest interpretation Ionian Kahn kind Laert later Leucippus logos Love and Strife Melissus monism mortal motion move nature offer ontology Oxford paradox Parmenides particular perhaps Philolaus philosophers Phys physical Plato plurality poem possible Presocratic Philosophy Pythagorean question reason sandwich sceptical Schofield Sedley sense Sextus Sextus Empiricus Socrates sort soul sources Thales things thought tion tradition true truth various Xenophanes Zeno Zeno’s