Ancient Greek Philosophy (eBook)

Thomas A. Blackson is a member of the Philosophy Faculty in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State University.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

Text Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

Part I: The Presocratics.

Timeline.

1. The Milesian Revolution.

1.1. The Milesians Turn to Nature.

1.2. Parmenides.

1.3. A Defense of the Inquiry into Nature.

Further Reading for Part I.

Part II: Socrates.

Timeline.

2. The Good Life.

2.1. Definitions.

2.2. The Love of Wisdom.

2.3. Intellectualism.

3. Against the Sophists.

3.1. The Sophists Come to Athens.

3.2. The Sophist Sells Teachings for the Soul.

3.3. Rhetoric is Blind to the Good.

Further Reading for Part II.

Part III: Plato.

4. Three Platonic Theories.

4.1. The Theory of Recollection.

4.2. The Theory of Forms.

4.2. The Tripartite Theory of the Soul.

5. Justice and its Reward.

5.1. The Opening Conversation.

5.2. Justice.

5.3. The Just Life is Better . ..

Further Reading for Part III.

Part IV: Aristotle.

6. Second Philosophy.

6.1. Natural Bodies and their Specific Behaviors.

6.2. Natures are Forms.

6.3. Teleology in Nature.

7. Psychology.

7.1. The Soul is the Form of the Body.

7.2. Induction.

7.3. Becoming like the Unmovable First Mover.

8. First Philosophy.

8.1. The Science of Being.

8.2. Substances are Forms.

8.3. No Universal is a Substance.

9. Ethics..

9.1. The Function Argument.

9.2. Theoretical Wisdom.

9.3. Practical Wisdom.

Further Reading for Part IV.

Part V: Hellenistic Philosophers.

Timeline.

10. Reaction to the Classical Tradition.

10.1. Epicureanism.

10.2. Stoicism.

10.3. Skepticism.

Further Reading for Part V.

References.

Index of Passages.

General Index.

"Thomas Blackson's Ancient Greek Philosophy is an
introductory-level overview of philosophy from the Presocratic
through the Hellenistic periods. It would serve as an ideal
companion for a Survey of Ancient Philosophy course.
B.'s prose is lucid and accessible, his interpretations of
many of the texts are compelling and interlace nicely, and he
provides informative footnotes and annotations. This is a
very useful book." (Classical Review, 2012)

"Recommended. Lower-and upper-level
undergraduates." (Choice, 1 May 2012)
"I should conclude by reiterating that I enjoyed and benefited from
following Blackson's attempts to trace some continuities of
interest and debate in the principal ancient philosophers."
(Bmcreview, 12 October 2011)



"An ideal introduction to the study of Ancient Greek Philosophy.
The beginning student will find Blackson's narrative compelling.
The more seasoned scholar will be grateful for the extensively
referenced footnotes."

--Gareth B. Matthews, University of
Massachusetts/Amherst