Ancient Philosophy, Second Edition, retains its helpful structure: each philosophical position receives:
(1) a brief introduction,
(2) a sympathetic review of its principal motivations and primary supporting arguments, and
(3) a short assessment, inviting readers to evaluate its plausibility. The result is a book that brings the ancient arguments to life, making the introduction truly contemporary. It continues to serve as both a first stop and a well-visited resource for any student of the subject.
Key Features:
▸ Extends the range of coverage well into the sixth century CE by offering a new chapter on Neoplatonism and early Christian philosophy, featuring discussions of Proclus and Augustine.
▸ Explains the conflicts between Plato and the Sophists by highlighting their approaches to rhetoric as an instrument of persuasion, offering a helpful explanation of two senses of argument.
▸ Includes new coverage of Plato’s argument from the Simplicity of the Soul, Argument from Affinity, and Argument against Rhetoric.
▸ Includes coverage of Aristotle’s political naturalism