The Blackwell Guide to Ancient Philosophy

The Blackwell Guide to Ancient Philosophy provides a comprehensive treatment of the principal figures and movements of philosophy from its origins before Socrates, through the towering achievements of Plato and Aristotle, and into its final developments in late antiquity. Authored by a cast of distinguished philosophers, this collection offers in–depth, accessible essays on the Presocratics, the Sophistic Movement, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the principal Hellenistic schools – Epicureanism, Academic Skepticism, and Stoicism – and, finally, the often neglected Neoplatonists. Featuring a comprehensive bibliography of primary and secondary recommended works for each of its topics, this book is an indispensable resource for the study of ancient philosophy.

Notes on Contributors. Editor’s Introduction. Part I: Philosophy Before Socrates: Introduction. 1. Presocratic Philosophy.(Richard McKirahan). 2. The Sophists. (John Gibert). Part II: Socrates: Introduction. 3. Socrates: (Thomas C. Brickhouse and Nicholas D. Smith). Part III: Plato: Introduction. 4. Plato: Metaphysics.(Daniel Devereux). 5. Plato: Epistemology.(Nicholas White). 6. Plato: Ethics. (Gerisimos Santas). 7. Plato: Psychology. (Allan Silverman). Part IV: Aristotle: Introduction. 8. Aristotle: Epistemology and Methodology. (Robert Bolton). 9. Aristotle: Metaphysics. (Michael Loux). 10. Aristotle: Ethics and Politics. (Fred D. Miller, Jr.). 11. Aristotle: Psychology. (Gareth Matthews). Part V: Hellenistic Philosophy: Introduction. 12. Epicureanism. (David Konstan). 13. Stoicism. (Phillip Mitsis). 14. Academics and Pyrrhonists. (R. J. Hankinson). Part VI: Late Abtique Philosophy: Introduction. 15. Neoplatonism. (Lloyd P. Gerson). Bibliography. Index.

Christopher Shields is Professor of Philosophy and Classics at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is author of Order in Multiplicity: Homonymy in the Philosophy of Aristotle (1999).

"Beginners will find in these essays clear and helpful accounts of some of the main philosophical issues raised by the Greek philosophers. The essays display the scope and variety of Greek philosophy, from the beginnings to later Platonism, and its permanent philosophical significance." Terence Irwin, Cornell University