Description
"A masterful introduction to ancient philosophy. Fitzpatrick knows the contemporary scholarship on these authors, so he can shift from summarizing their thought to scrutinizing individual arguments. Meanwhile the writing remains so accessible that a reader might not notice how much he covers. The prose is precise but relaxed, with details that enrich the texture: the Pythagoreans' harmonies, the Stoic Horned Argument, Antisthenes' daily walk to Socrates. Students and instructors alike will benefit."
-Nickolas Pappas, Professor at City College of New York (CUNY)
This Is Ancient Philosophy is a fascinating introduction to the major philosophers and foundational concepts of classical antiquity.
Assuming no prior knowledge, the book uses an intuitive, readable narrative style as it examines the ideas, influences, and interconnections of philosophers such as Socrates, the Sophists, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as philosophical schools of thought including Cynicism, Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Skepticism.
Divided into three parts, the book opens with an overview of early Greek philosophy, describing the turn from mythological thinking to philosophical analysis. The second part focuses on the distinctions between the subjects of philosophy in both the Golden Age and today, followed by a survey of the Hellenistic period and a discussion of the relation between fate and freedom of action. Throughout, readers are aided by a wealth of instructive and engaging charts, grids, figures, and a detailed map illustrating the chronological development of philosophy, from Asia Minor to southern Italy and Athens.
Part of the popular This Is Philosophy series, This Is Ancient Philosophy is an excellent text for students of philosophy, both introductory and advanced, and general readers with interest in the philosophy of the classical era.
About the Author
KIRK FITZPATRICK is Professor of Philosophy at Southern Utah University, where he teaches philosophy and Attic Greek. From 2012 to 2016, he served as Director of the Grace A. Tanner Center at Southern Utah University. His publications focus on leadership, poetry, and music in Plato's Republic, as well as the philosophy of education, politics, and moral weakness. Fitzpatrick's recent publications include "Two Songs in the Kallipolis of Plato's Republic," in The Political Science Reviewer, vol. 45, no. 1 (2021).
Reviews
"A masterful introduction to ancient philosophy. Fitzpatrick knows the contemporary scholarship on these authors, so he can shift from summarizing their thought to scrutinizing individual arguments. Meanwhile the writing remains so accessible that a reader might not notice how much he covers. The prose is precise but relaxed, with details that enrich the texture: the Pythagoreans' harmonies, the Stoic Horned Argument, Antisthenes' daily walk to Socrates. Students and instructors alike will benefit."
Nick Pappas, Professor of Philosophy and Classics at City College and the Graduate Center, CUNY."In this work, Kirk Fitzpatrick offers a valuable introduction to the leading thinkers of ancient Greek and Roman philosophy. He provides a historical context for their thought, examines the individual thinkers and their schools, and explores common themes in a stimulating study. He explains the advances made by the early philosophers in moving from a mythological to a rational and scientific view of the world and shows the relevance of their thought for present-day problems."
Daniel Graham, Professor of Philosophy at Brigham Young University.
Book Information
ISBN 9781119879404
Author Kirk Fitzpatrick
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Wiley-Blackwell
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 295g
Dimensions(mm) 226mm * 150mm * 18mm
