Philosophic Classics - Softcover

Baird, Forrest

Softcover

ISBN 10: 013048556X ISBN 13: 9780130485564

Publisher: Routledge, 2002

Synopsis

For courses in Ancient Philosophy. Designed to be accessible to today's students, this anthology of readings in Ancient Western philosophy focuses on the writings of the most important Greek philosophers, along with selections from some of their Roman followers. Striking a balance between major and minor figures, it features the best available translations of texts--complete works or complete selections of works--which are both central to each philosopher's thought and are widely accepted as part of the "canon." The selections are readable and accessible, while still being faithful to the original. Introductions to each philosopher; an abundance of drawings, diagrams, photographs; and a timeline keep students focused throughout.

About this title

About the Author

Forrest E. Baird is Professor and Chair of Philosophy & Religion at Whitworth College, Spokane, Washington.

From the Back Cover

Forrest Baird's revisions of Philosophic Classics, Prentice Hall's long-standing philosophy series, continue the tradition begun in 1961, to provide generations of students with anthologies of high quality in the history of Western philosophy. Using the complete works or, where appropriate, complete sections of works, this series allows philosophers to speak directly to students.

This series includes texts central to the thinker's own philosophy, using the best available translations. Introductions to each reading are divided into three sections:

• Biographical – Provides a glimpse into the life of the philosopher;
• Philosophical – Presents a résumé of the philosopher's thought; and
• Bibliographical – Offers suggestions for further reading.

In addition, drawings, photographs, and time lines help put the readings into context. In short, every effort has been made to help the reader understand primary source materials.

Philosophic Classics is available in the following versions:

• Volume I: Ancient Philosophy Fourth Edition, c2003 (0-13-048556-X)
• Volume II: Medieval Philosophy, Fourth Edition, c2003 (0-13-048557-8)
• Volume III: Modern Philosophy, Fourth Edition, c2003 (0-13-048558-6)
• Volume IV: Nineteenth-Century Philosophy; Third Edition, c2003 (0-13-048550-0)
• Volume V: Twentieth-Century Philosophy Third Edition, c2003 (013-048563-2)
• From Plato to Derrida, Combined Edition, Fourth Edition, c2003 (0-13-048561-6)

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The philosophers of ancient Greece have fascinated thinking persons for centuries. Their writings have been one of the key influences on the development of Western civilization, beginning with the fragmentary statements of the Pre-Socratics, moving to the all-embracing systems of Plato and Aristotle, and culminating in the practical advice of the Hellenistic writers, Greek philosophers have defined the questions and suggested many of the answers for subsequent generations. As the great Greek statesman, Pericles, sagely predicted, "Future ages will wonder at us, as the present age wonders at us now."

This volume in the Philosophic Classics series includes the writings of the most important Greek philosophers, along with selections from some of their Roman followers. In choosing texts for this volume I have tried wherever possible to follow three principles: (1) to use complete works or, where more appropriate, complete sections of works (2) in clear translations (3) of texts central to the thinker's philosophy or widely accepted as part of the "canon." To make the works more accessible to students, most footnotes treating textual matters (variant readings, etc.) have been omitted and all Greek words have been transliterated and put in angle brackets. In addition, each thinker is introduced by a brief essay composed of three sections: (1) biographical (a glimpse of the life), (2) philosophical (a résumé of the philosopher's thought), and (3) bibliographical (suggestions for further reading).

For this edition a number of small changes have been made including the addition of Critias and Aspasia to the Pre-Socratics and the section on the "Ring of Gyges" from Plato's Republic. The section on the Hellenistic and Roman philosophers has been restructured to follow the development of the different schools and the translations of Plato, Apology and Crito, Lucretius, On the Nature of the Universe, and Plotinus, Enneads, have all been changed.

Those who use this first volume in a one-term course in ancient philosophy will find more material here than can easily fit a normal semester. But this embarrassment of riches gives teachers some choice and, for those who offer the same course year after year, an opportunity to change the menu.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 013048556X
• ISBN 13: 9780130485564
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 561