Philosophy in the Hellenistic and Roman Worlds: A History of philosophy without any gaps, Volume 2

by Peter Adamson

Overview

Peter Adamson's History of Philosophy without any gaps series of podcasts is one of the most ambitious educational works on the web. It aims to do nothing less than take listeners through the entire history of philosophy 'without any gaps'. It assumes no prior knowledge making it ideal for beginners. This is the second volume to make these witty, and highly accessible, podcasts available in book form. Philosophy in the Hellenistic and Roman Worlds offers a tour through a period of eight hundred years when some of the most influential of all schools of thought were formed. From the counter-cultural witticisms of Diogenes the Cynic to the political philosophy of Augustine, the book gathers together all aspects of later ancient thought in a way that is a pleasure to read.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198818601
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	07/31/2018
Series:	A History of Philosophy
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	464
Sales rank:	324,971
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Peter Adamson took his doctorate from the University of Notre Dame and first worked at King's College London. In 2012 he moved to the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen, where he is Professor of Late Ancient and Arabic Philosophy. He has published widely in ancient and medieval philosophy, especially on Neoplatonism and on philosophy in the Islamic world.

Table of Contents

Part I. Hellenistic Philosophy1. Fighting over Socrates: The Hellenistic schools2. Beware of the Philosopher: The Cynics3. Instant Gratification: The Cyrenaics4. The Constant Gardener: The Principles of Epicurus5. Am I Bothered?: Epicurean Ethics6. Nothing to Fear: Epicureans on Death and the Gods7. Reaping the Harvest: Lucretius8. Walking on Eggshells: Stoic Logic9. Nobody's Perfect: The Stoics on Knowledge10. We Didn't Start the Fire: The Stoics on Nature11. Like a Rolling Stone: Stoic Ethics12. Anger Management: Seneca13. You Can Chain My Leg: Epictetus14. The Philosopher King: Marcus Aurelius15. Beyond Belief: Pyrrho and Skepticism16. The Know Nothing Party: The Skeptical Academy17. Rhetorical Questions: Cicero18. Healthy Skepticism: Sextus Empiricus19. The Joy of Sects: Ancient Medicine and Philosophy20. The Best Doctor is a Philosopher: GalenPart II. Pagan Philosophy in the Roman Empire21. Caesarian Section: Philosophy in the Roman Empire22. Middle Men: The Platonic Revival23. To the Lighthouse: Philo of Alexandria24. Delphic Utterances: Plutarch25. Lost and Found: Aristotelianism after Aristotle26. Not Written in Stone: Alexander of Aphrodisias27. Silver Tongues in Golden Mouths: Rhetoric and Ancient Philosophy28. Sky Writing: Astronomy, Astrology, and Philosophy29. A God Is My Co-Pilot: The Life and Works of Plotinus30. Simplicity Itself: Plotinus on the One and Intellect31. On the Horizon: Plotinus on the Soul32. A Decorated Corpse: Plotinus on Matter and Evil33. King of Animals: Porphyry34. Pythagorean Theorems: Iamblichus35. Domestic Goddesses and Philosopher Queens: The Household and the State36. The Platonic Successor: Proclus37. A Tale of Two Cities: The Last Pagan Philosophers38. For a Limited Time Only: John PhiloponusPart III. Christian Philosophy in the Roman Empire39. Father Figures: Ancient Christian Philosophy40. Please Accept our Apologies: The Greek Church Fathers41. Fall and Rise: Origen42. Three for the Price of One: The Cappadocians43. Naming the Nameless: The Pseudo-Dionysius44. Double or Nothing: Maximus the Confessor45. Practice Makes Perfect: Christian Asceticism46. Spreading the Word: The Latin Church Fathers47. Life and Time: Augustine's Confessions48. Papa Don't Teach: Augustine on Language49. Help Wanted: Augustine on Freedom50. Heaven and Earth: Augustine's City of God51. Me, Myself, and I: Augustine on Mind and Memory52. Born Again: Latin Platonism53. Fate, Hope, and Clarity: Boethius

Editorial Reviews

"Adamson considers a large period of history but the chapters never seem intimidating or lacking in depth. Any reader with an interest in philosophy will find this work both entertaining and educational." — Library Journal

"...Adamson's attempt to fill in the gaps provides greater context to understand the ongoing conflicts between hedonism and orthodox Abrahamic traditions that animate so much of Western thought." — First Things

"A volume that is both a perfect introductory work and will also help to plug some of the gaps that most of us have in our knowledge of the long span of ancient philosophical history." — James Warren, Phronesis

From the Publisher

09/15/2015
While the first volume of Adamson's (philosophy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) series (based on his podcasts of the same name) dealt with well-known philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, Volume 2 addresses lesser-known philosophers and schools of thought. Divided into three sections, the book first covers Hellenistic philosophy and includes the Stoics, Cynics, and Skeptics. The second section explores the pagan philosophers of the Roman Empire and includes fantastic chapters on Plotinus. The final segment deals with the Christian philosophers of the Roman Empire, with several chapters on Augustine's philosophy. Adamson explains that, besides Plotinus, none left behind a significant body of work. Even with the void of written works, the author does a wonderful job of showing how the philosophers' thought covered several areas of philosophy, from epistemology and logic to rhetoric and religion. VERDICT Adamson considers a large period of history but the chapters never seem intimidating or lacking in depth. Any reader with an interest in philosophy will find this work both entertaining and educational.—Scott Duimstra, Capital Area Dist. Lib., Lansing, MI

Library Journal