Presocratics

An account of the Presocratics, this work 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 philosophical interest of their claims.

Autorentext

James Warren is a former attorney and federal prosecutor who resides in the greater Los Angeles area. He is married to Carolyn who is a concert violinist, and they have three adult children. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America.When not writing, or busy working, James interests include NFL football, watching movies, and reading mysteries, thrillers, and historical non-fiction. His favourite books include The Reversal by Michael Connelly and The Firm by John Grisham.He particularly enjoys travelling and hopes to do more of it. He has a fondness for the Yellowstone National Park and an Alaskan cruise is on his bucket list, although any excursion to the ocean, particularly to California's central coast he finds worthwhile.James' legal experience and passion for fiction have come together in the form of his stand-out debut THAT CARE FORGOT, set in 1990s New Orleans. Further titles are on the way, including the brilliant legal thriller PROTECTION RACKET set in present-day New York.

Klappentext

The 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 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.

Inhalt
Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; Map; 1. Introduction: Reading Presocratic Philosophy; 2. Ionian Beginnings; 3. Xenophanes; 4. The riddles of Heraclitus; 5. Parmenides; 6. Reactions to Parmenides. 7. Anaxagoras; 8. Empedocles; 9. Leucippus and Democritus; 10. Epilogue; Chronology; Notes; Bibliography; Index.