Greek Philosophy

The late antique world possessed no voice like that of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE). His private meditations on what constitutes a good life have withstood the centuries and reach us today with the same penetrating clarity and shining light as the words of Shakespeare, Emerson, or Thoreau.

Stoicism is two things: a long past philosophical school of ancient Greece and Rome, and an enduring philosophical movement that still inspires people in the twenty-first century to rethink and reorganize their lives in order to achieve personal satisfaction. What is the connection between them? This Very Short Introduction provides an introductory account of Stoic philosophy, and tells the story of how ancient Stoicism survived and evolved into the movement we see today.

The dramatic nature of Plato’s dialogues is delightfully evident in the "Symposium." The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at Agathon's house to celebrate the success of his first tragedy. With wit and insight, they each present their ideas about love - from Erixymachus’s scientific naturalism to Aristophanes' comic fantasy. The unexpected arrival of Alcibiades breaks the spell cast by Diotima’s ethereal climb up the staircase of love to beauty itself.

The essays contained in this volume treat of various subjects. With the exception of perhaps one we must consider all these papers as fragments. Written during the early Seventies, and intended mostly as prefaces, they are extremely interesting, since traces of Nietzsche's later tenets - like Slave and Master morality, the Superman - can be found everywhere. But they are also very valuable on account of the young philosopher's daring and able handling of difficult and abstruse subjects.

The Nature of Things was written in the 1st century BC by Roman polymath Lucretius. It is written as a didactic poem, and explains Epicurean physics.

Stoicism is a philosophy that was started in Ancient Greece, but this 2,000-year-old worldview is enjoying a modern rebirth. All across the globe, people are coming to appreciate the timeless wisdom of Stoicism. You don't have to suffer. You may not be able to control the path your life will take, but Stoicism teaches that you can control the way you see life. By shifting your way of thinking you can eliminate unnecessary suffering, reshape your thought patterns, and achieve that sense of calm you've always wanted.

How to Win an Election is an ancient Roman guide for campaigning that is as up-to-date as tomorrow's headlines. In 64 BC when idealist Marcus Cicero, Rome's greatest orator, ran for consul (the highest office in the Republic), his practical brother Quintus decided he needed some no-nonsense advice on running a successful campaign.

Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus never intended his collection of personal writings to be published, but it has become the foremost work of Stoic philosophy and advice to survive from ancient times.

The extraordinary principles of Stoicism instructed through the narrative of its most acclaimed defender.

The Republic is a classic work by an ancient Greek philosopher Plato. There is one of the most famous dialogues of Plato about the arrangement of the state structure and the essence of the state (contemporary for Plato, of course, but also important nowadays because the whole modern so called "European civilisation" is based, first of all, on ancient schemes). The structure of Plato's dialogue is similar to others. Socrates and Glaucon are coming back to Athens from Piraeus. They are stopped by Polemarchus who invites them to visit him and talk.

Rather than confusing you with jargon, which is often the case with other books, this book is a simple-to-follow practical guide on using Stoic philosophy to become more calm, assured, and confident. This book will teach you about the many benefits of a stoic mentality and help you understand that a fulfilling life is found in a lifestyle that aligns with your values and dreams.

Seit Bestsellerautor Ryan Holiday 2014 mit Das Hindernis ist der Weg den Stoizismus der Welt vorgestellt hat, ist diese einfache, aber kraftvolle Lebensphilosophie zu einem globalen Phänomen geworden. In diesem Buch zeigt der mehrfache Bestsellerautor, wie der Leser den Umgang mit Herausforderungen lernen kann. Denn wir werden tagtäglich mit Problemen konfrontiert.

In 63 BC, frustrated by his failure to be elected leader of the Roman Republic, the aristocrat Catiline tried to topple its elected government. Backed by corrupt elites and poor, alienated Romans, he fled Rome while his associates plotted to burn the city and murder its leading politicians. The attempted coup culminated with the unmasking of the conspirators in the Senate. In How to Stop a Conspiracy, Josiah Osgood presents a brisk, modern new translation of the definitive account of these events, Sallust's The War with Catiline.

Ancient Greece first coined the concept of democracy, yet almost every major ancient Greek thinker - from Plato and Aristotle onward - was ambivalent toward or even hostile to democracy in any form. The explanation for this is quite simple: The elite perceived majority power as tantamount to a dictatorship of the proletariat. In ancient Greece, there can be traced not only the rudiments of modern democratic society but the entire Western tradition of antidemocratic thought.

Socrates is on trial for his life. He is charged with impiety and corrupting young people. He presents his own defense, explaining why he has devoted his life to challenging the most powerful and important people in the Greek world. The reason is that rich and famous politicians, priests, poets, and a host of others pretend to know what is good, true, holy, and beautiful, but when Socrates questions them they are shown to be foolish rather than wise.

Perhaps the most important work of philosophy after the Allegory of the Cave. Incomparable logic and findings about the things that matter in life with a clear, succinct prose touch.

Aristotle's most complicated and academic work. This is a challenging work for even those who admire his other seven books. Incomparable analysis in language and thought, with a clear, succinct prose touch.

Ce texte fondateur du philosophe épicurien de la Grèce Antique qui regroupe poésie et philosophie se présente comme une tentative de "briser les forts verrous des portes de la nature", c'est-à-dire de révéler au lecteur la nature du monde et des phénomènes naturels. Selon Lucrèce, cette connaissance du monde doit permettre à l'homme de se libérer du fardeau des superstitions, notamment religieuses, constituant autant d'entraves qui empêchent chacun d'atteindre l'ataraxie ; la tranquillité de l'âme.

Marcus Tullius Cicéron : un des plus grands orateurs n'ayant jamais existé. Ses talents d'avocat lui permirent d'accéder à la magistrature suprême, fonction normalement réservée à la noblesse ; et la seule énergie de ses discours, les "Catilinaires", suffit à déjouer une terrible conjuration qui visait à l'élimination d'une partie de l'élite politique. Cicéron connut la gloire à la suite de cette affaire, avant que sa franche opposition au pouvoir d'Antoine lui coûte la vie en 43 av. J-C. L'œuvre de Cicéron est considérée comme un modèle d'expression latine, et on lui doit la transmission d'une part importante de la pensée grecque.

Socrate est souvent qualifié de "père de la philosophie". S'il n'en est peut-être pas le fondateur, il est le premier à se détourner de l'étude de la nature et à insister pour que la réflexion philosophique s'intéresse désormais, et exclusivement, aux "affaires humaines". En raison de cette stature, et du fait qu'il n'ait jamais laissé d'écrit, on a longtemps cherché dans les œuvres de Platon, de Xénophon, d'Aristophane ou encore d'Aristote, la trace du vrai Socrate, du Socrate historique.