The first philosophers paved the way for the work of Plato and Aristotle - and hence for the whole of Western thought.
Aristotle said that philosophy begins with wonder, and the first Western philosophers developed theories of the world which express simultaneously their sense of wonder and their intuition that the world should be comprehensible. But their enterprise was by no means limited to this proto-scientific task. Through, for instance, Heraclitus' enigmatic sayings, the poetry of Parmenides and Empedocles, and Zeno's paradoxes, the Western world was introduced to metaphysics, rationalist theology, ethics, and logic, by thinkers who often seem to be mystics or shamans as much as philosophers or scientists in the modern mould. And out of the Sophists' reflections on human beings and their place in the world arose and interest in language, and in political, moral, and social philosophy.
This volume contains a translation of all the most important fragments of the Presocratics and Sophists, and of the most informative testimonia from ancient sources, supplemented by lucid commentary.
Edited and translated by:
Robin Waterfield Imprint: Worlds Classics Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 196mm,
Width: 128mm,
Spine: 18mm
Weight: 279g ISBN:9780199539093 ISBN 10: 019953909X Series:Oxford World's Classics Pages: 400 Publication Date:10 June 2009 Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
Reviews for The First Philosophers: The Presocratics and Sophists
Meaning brings Frankl to life in full dimension--his spirit, determination, wisdom, and integrity.
