A.A. Long, one of the world's leading writers on ancient philosophy, presents eighteen essays on the philosophers and schools of the Hellenistic and Roman periods---Epicureans, Stoics, and Sceptics. The discussion ranges over four centuries of innovative and challenging thought in ethics and politics, psychology, epistemology, and cosmology.
In From Epicurus to Epictetus, Long's focus is on the distinctive contributions and methodologies of individual thinkers, notably Epicurus, Zeno, Pyrrho, Arcesilaus, Lucretius, Cicero, Seneca, and Epictetus.
Placing their philosophy in its cultural context, and considering it in relation to the earlier ideas of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, he invites his readers to imagine themselves choosing between Stoicism and Epicureanism as philosophies of life.
All but one of these pieces has been previously published in periodicals or conference volumes, but the author has revised and updated everything, and has also added postscripts to many of the essays.
This is a book not only for scholars and experts but also, thanks to the author's accessible style, for everyone interested in understanding the legacy and continuing relevance of ancient thought.
By:
A. A. Long (Department of Classics University of California Berkeley)
Imprint: Clarendon Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 155mm,
Spine: 22mm
Weight: 1g
ISBN: 9780199279128
ISBN 10: 0199279128
Pages: 456
Publication Date: 14 September 2006
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Preface Acknowledgements Citations and Abbreviations Part One: General 1: Hellenistic ethics and philosophical power 2: Hellenistics ethics as the art of life Part Two: Scepticism 3: Aristotle and the history of Greek scepticism 4: Timon: Pyrrhonist and satirist Timon: Pyrrhonist and Timon: Pyrrhonist and satirist Timon: Pyrrhonist and satirist Timon: Pyrrhonist and satirist 5: Arcesilaus in his time and place 6: Scepticism about gods in Hellenistic philosophy 7: Astrology: arguments pro and contra Part Three: Epicureanism 8: Chance and laws of nature in Epicureanism 9: Lucretius and the Epicurean self 10: Pleasure and social utility - the virtues of being Epicurean Part Four: Early Stoicism 11: Zeno's epistemology and Plato's Theaetetus 12: Stoic psychology and the elucidation of language 13: The Stoics on world-Conflagration and everlasting recurrence Part Five: Cicero, and Roman Stoicism 14: Cicero's Plato and Aristotle 15: Cicero's politics in De officiis 16: Stoic philosophers on persons, property ownership and community 17: Seneca on the self: why now? 18: Epictetus on understanding and managing emotions Bibliography Index of subjects Index locorum
A. A. Long is a Professor in the Department of Classics, University of California, Berkeley. He has been a visiting professor at many other European universities, including most recently appointment as Belle van Zuylen Professor of Philosophy at the University of Utrecht. His other books include Hellenistic Philosophy: Stoics, Epicureans, Sceptics (which has been translated into eight languages), the two-volume source book, The Hellenistic Philosophers (co-authored with David Sedley), Stoic Studies, and Epictetus: A Stoic and Socratic Guide to Life (OUP).
Reviews for From Epicurus to Epictetus: Studies in Hellenistic and Roman Philosophy
...is moreover the best study of its subject to date. * Nathan Powers, Princeton University * ...stimulaating collection of essays...[Long] has helped to make Hellenistic philosophy a required subject for every student of classics and philosophy * Sara Ahbel-Rappe, The Classical Review *
