Ancient Self-Refutation: The Logic And History Of The Self-Refutation Argument From Democritus To Augustine

Luca Castagnoli

ISBN 10: 1107470633 / ISBN 13: 9781107470637

Published by Cambridge University Press 2015-03-05, 2015

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 6666-IUK-9781107470637

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ancient Self-Refutation: The Logic And History Of The Self-Refutation Argument From Democritus To Augustine
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press 2015-03-05
• Publication Date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1107470633
• ISBN 13: 9781107470637
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

A ‘self-refutation argument' is any argument which aims at showing that (and how) a certain thesis is self-refuting. This is the first book-length treatment of ancient self-refutation and provides a unified account of what is distinctive in the ancient approach to the self-refutation argument, on the basis of close philological, logical and historical analysis of a variety of sources. It examines the logic, force, and prospects of this original style of argumentation within the context of ancient philosophical debates, dispelling various misconceptions concerning its nature and purpose and elucidating some important differences which exist both within the ancient approach to self-refutation and between that approach, as a whole, and some modern counterparts of it. In providing a comprehensive account of ancient self-refutation, the book advances our understanding of influential and debated texts and arguments from philosophers like Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, the Stoics, the Academic sceptics, the Pyrrhonists and Augustine.

About the Author

Luca Castagnoli is Lecturer in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Durham. He is the author of several articles on a variety of themes in ancient philosophy.