The Texts of Early Greek Philosophy: The Complete Fragments and Selected Testimonies of the Major Presocratics

Description

This two-part sourcebook gives the reader easy access to the language and thought of the Presocratic thinkers, making it possible either to read the texts continuously or to study them one by one along with commentary. It contains the complete fragments and a generous selection of testimonies for twenty major Presocratic thinkers including cosmologists, ontologists, and sophists, setting translations opposite Greek and Latin texts on facing pages to allow easy comparison. The texts are grouped in chapters by author in a mainly chronological order, each preceded by a brief introduction and an up-to-date bibliography, and followed by a brief commentary. Significant variant readings are noted. This edition contains new fragments and testimonies not included in the authoritative but now outdated Fragmente der Vorsokratiker. It is the first and only complete bilingual edition of the works of the Presocratic philosophers for English-speakers. Contents Abbreviations A note on text references Preface Introduction 1. Who they were 2. Schools and movements 3. Texts and contexts 4. Sources for the Presocratics 4.1 Philosophers 4.2 Doxographers 4.3 Biographers 4.4 Other sources 5. Historiography 5.1 Antiquity 5.2 The Middle Ages and Renaissance 5.3 The modern period 6. The texts Part I. Cosmologists and ontologists A. The sixth century BC 1. Thales Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles B. Physical theory IV. Reception Commentary 1-5 6-15 16-23 24-38 Select bibliography 2. Anaximander Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles B. Physical theory Commentary 1-9 11-18 19-28 30-42 Select bibliography 3. Anaximenes Introduction Texts I . Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles B. Physical theory IV. Reception Commentary 1-10 11-24 25-39 Select bibliography 4. Xenophanes Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. The poet and his mission B. Observations and criticisms C. Principles and theology D. Physical theory E. Epistemology and psychology IV. Reception Commentary 1-34 35-51 52-79 80-83 Select bibliography 5. Heraclitus Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles and knowledge B. The world and opposites C. Psychology, ethics, politics, theology IV. Reception Commentary 1-4 8-29 30-50 51-59 61-62 69-91 92-112 118-139 140-162 163-169 171 Select bibliography B. The fifth century BC 6. Parmenides Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Truth B. Opinion IV. Reception Commentary 1-10 12-15 16-17 18-20 24-38 39-61 62-64 Select bibliography 7. Zeno Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Arguments against the existence of a plurality B. Arguments against motion C. Other arguments IV. Reception Commentary 1-7 8-14 15-22 23-28 Select bibliography 8. Anaxagoras Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles B. Mind and motion C. Physical theory D. Perception IV. Reception Commentary 8-11 12-14 15-23 24-33 34-36 37-43 44-57 58-65 Select bibliography 9. Empedocles Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Introduction and epistemology B. Principles and elements C. The cosmic cycle D. Cosmology E. Biology F. Medicine and Magic G. Psychology, Ethics and Theology ( = Purifications?) IV. Reception Commentary 1-14 15-37 38-41 43-52 53-66 67-91 93-126 127-173 174-219 Select bibliography 10. Diogenes of Apollonia Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles B. Cosmology and astronomy C. Meteorology and geology D. Biology E. Psychology F. Physiology and embryology IV. Reception Commentary 1-8 9-16 18-45 Select bibliography 11. Melissus Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy IV. Reception Commentary 1-9 10-17 18 19-26 Select bibliography 12. Philolaus Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles B. Cosmology C. Physiology D. Psychology E. Number and science F. Ethics IV. Reception Commentary 1-8 11-14 16-31 32-46 47 Select bibliography 13. The Atomists - Leucippus and Democritus Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Principles B. Cosmology C. Astronomy and meteorology D. Biology and physiology E. Anthropology F. Psychology G. Perception H. Knowledge I. Almanac J. Geography K. Agriculture L. Geometry M. Philology and language N. Theology IV. Reception Commentary 1-9 10-13 14-18 19-40 41-53 54-71 72-100 109-135 136-141 142-190 191 Select bibliography 14. The Atomists, continued: Democritus' ethical fragments Introduction Texts I. Ethics A. General B. Happiness and the soul C. Virtue and vice D. Chance, fortune and prudence E. Possessions F. Desires and pleasure G. Friendship and family relations H. Education I. Praise and blame J. Youth and age K. Justice L. Law and politics N. Practical ethics Commentary 192-205 200-302 303-429 Select bibliography Part II: Sophists 15. Protagoras Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Man the measure B. Appearance C. Opposed arguments D. On the gods E. On mathematics F. Language, literature, education IV. Reception Commentary 1-12 13-20 21-31 33-46 47 Select bibliography 16. Gorgias Introduction Texts I. Life A. Biography B. Style and influence II. Works III. Philosophy A. Method B. On What-ls-Not C. Funeral oration D. Olympian oration E. Encomium of the People of Elis F. Encomium of Helen G. Defense of Palamedes H. Manual of rhetoric I. From other works J. Poorly arrested Commentary 1-38 39 40-50 51-59 Select bibliography 17. Antiphon the Sophist Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. On Truth B. On Concord C. Statesman D. The Dream Book Commentary 1-23 25-46 47-62 63-85 99-106 Select bibliography 18. Prodicus Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. The seasons B. On Nature and other works C. Doubtful Commentary 1-23 24-34 Select bibliography 19. Anonymous Texts Introduction Texts An Anonymous Author from Iamblichus (Anonymus Iamblichi) Commentary 1-4 5-7 Select bibliography 19B. Dissoi Logoi Introducrion Texts Debated Questions (Dissoi Logoi, Dialexeis) 1. On good and bad 2. On right and wrong 3. On just and unjust 4. On truth and falsity 5. [On madness and sanity] 6. 7. [On choosing by lot] 8. [On knowledge of speech and things] 9. [On memory] Commentary 1 2-4 5-6 7-8 Select bibliography Appendix: Pythagoras Introduction Texts I. Life II. Works III. Philosophy A. Method B. Psychology C. Pythagorean life D. Miracles E. Ritual prescriptions and maxims IV. Later history and reception A. Political history B. Criticism Commentary 1-15 16-24 25 26