Providing an introduction to ancient philosophy, this book focuses on the key philosophers and their texts, from Pre-Socratic thinkers through to the Neo-Platonists. It brings together the primary writings of Thales, Xenophanes, Parmenides, Anaxagoras, Gorgias, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Lucretius, Seneca, Sextus Empiricus, Plotinus, and others.

The progression of philosophy in ancient Greece spans an extensive and complex period in history. Between 600 BCE and 600 CE the foundations of philosophy as we know it were laid, establishing the central areas of philosophical concern, and creating an agenda for future study and debate. This thorough introduction to ancient philosophy: focuses on the key philosophers and their texts, from Pre-Socratic thinkers through to the Neo-Platonists; brings together the key primary writings of Thales, Xenophanes, Parmenides, Anaxagoras, Gorgias, Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Lucretius, Seneca, Sextus Empiricus, Plotinus, and many others; and is broken down into eight chronological sections for easy comprehension and comparison. The readings are accompanied by expert commentary from the editors.

AcknowledgmentsList of SourcesChronologyMap 1 The Greek World (6th - 5th centuries BCE)Map 2 The Hellenistic Period (323 - 31 BCE)Map 3 The Late Roman EmpireGeneral IntroductionI: The Presocratics and Sophists:1. The Milesians: Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes 2. Xenophanes of Colophon, Heracleitus of Ephesus, and Pythagoras of Samos3. The Eleatics: Parmenides, and Zeno of Elea and Melissus of Samos4. The Pluralists: Empedocles of Acragas and Anaxagoras of Clazomenae5. The Atomists: Leucippus of Elea (or Miletus) and Democritus of Abdera6. The Sophists: Protagoras of Abdera, Gorgias of Leontini, and AntiphonII: Xenophon:Introduction7. MemorabiliaIII: Plato:Introduction8. Euthyphro9. Apology10. Crito11. Meno12. Phaedo13. Symposium14. Republic15. Parmenides16. TimaeusIV: Aristotle:Introduction17. Categories18. On Interpretation19. Physics20. On the Soul 21. Metaphysics22. Nicomachean Ethics23. Politics V: Diogenes the Cynic:Introduction24. Diogenes Laertius, Life of DiogenesVI: Epicurus and Epicureanism:Introduction25. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus
Letter to Menoeceus
Principle Doctrines26. Lucretius, On the Nature of Things VII: Stoics and Stoicism:Introduction27. Diogenes Laertius on Stoicism28. Epictetus, ManualVIII: Skeptics and Skepticism:Introduction29. Diogenes Laertius, Life of Pyrrho30. Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism 31. Sextus Empiricus, Against the ProfessorsIX: Neoplatonism:Introduction32. Plotinus, Enneads33. Proclus, On Evil Bibliography Recommended Further Reading (English-Language Sources)Index