Thales to Sextus

Download or read book Thales to Sextus written by Garrett Thomson and published by Waveland Press. This book was released on 2015-09-22 with total page 439 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The period spanning approximately 624–545 BC to 175–225 AD is often considered the most exciting in Western philosophy. Designed as a companion to the original works of the ancient philosophers from this early period, this introductory text spotlights seminal thinkers, including the Sophists; offers a detailed analysis of the thoughts and teachings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle; and features a well-rounded assessment of the Hellenistic and Roman philosophers, examining Epicureanism, Stoicism, and skepticism. Thomson’s comprehensive treatment features accessible explanations of the philosophers’ central arguments in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and politics. He presents critical assessments of the philosophers’ views and recounts some of the major interpretations of the original texts by noted scholars.