Greek Philosophy

Proverbs from antiquity that still make sense.

The Phaedrus by Plato, is a dialogue between Plato's protagonist, Socrates, and Phaedrus, an interlocutor in several dialogues. It was probably written around 370 BC, at about the same time as Plato's Republic and Symposium. Ostensibly about love, the discussion in the dialogue focuses on the art of rhetoric and how it ought to be practiced. The dialogue appears in the direct words of Socrates and Phaedrus, without an introduction.

Aristotle's Poetics (335 BCE) is the earliest surviving work of dramatic theory and first surviving philosophical treatise on dramatic or literary theory. The work begins with a preliminary discourse on tragedy, epic poetry, and comedy as the chief forms of imitative poetry. By "imitative", Aristotle means the imitation of action in words as a creative process. He distinguishes comedy, tragedy, the satyr play, lyric poetry, and epic poetry by their differences in musical rhythm, harmony, meter, melody, nature of the characters, and the manner in which the narrative is presented.

This small handbook of the theory and practice of Stoic philosophy has become one of the most influential of all texts from the ancient world. It has been a source of inspiration to rulers, philosophers, and social theorists, and its cogent prescriptions about the management of one's personal life can be applied with great benefit in the hectic and confused world of today.

"Die Kunst des Lebens besteht mehr im Ringen als im Tanzen." Auf der Suche nach der Idee der Freiheit und im Bewusstsein der Vergänglichkeit alles Irdischen befragt Marc Aurel, der Philosoph auf dem römischen Kaiserthron, sein eigenes Ich. Seine Selbstgespräche sind eine zeitlos eindrucksvolle Auseinandersetzung mit den Grundfragen richtiger Lebensführung.

"Du willst Philosoph sein. Mach dich darauf gefasst, dass man dich auslacht." In seinem Handbüchlein weist Epiktet einen zeitlos modernen Weg, sich von jenen zweifelhaften Werten und Überzeugungen freizumachen, die den Menschen versklaven. Wer sich unter Epiktets Anleitung wahre innere Freiheit erwirbt, den wird nichts und niemand mehr hindern können, glücklich und zufrieden zu leben.

Sokrates ist wegen Unfrömmigkeit angeklagt. Welches Strafmaß soll ergehen? In seiner Verteidiungsrede, die zu einer der Grundlagen der Philosophie geworden ist, zeigt Sokrates: Die Wahrheit ist das höchste Gut - und Eigeninteressen müssen dahinter zurückstehen. Ein packendes Hörerlebnis.

El Banquete forma parte de los Diálogos, legado literario y filosófico de Platón. Esta obra se desarrolla en un banquete al que van invitados importantes, entre ellos Sócrates. Erixímaco propone que cada uno de los presentes haga un discurso en alabanza del Amor, de Eros, y de ahí se derivan los siete discursos que lo componen y es así que el amor se hace presente desde diferentes puntos de vista.

"El tiempo que tenemos no es corto; pero perdiendo mucho de él, hacemos que lo sea, y la vida es suficiente- mente larga para ejecutar en ella cosas grandes, si la empleáremos bien."... "La brevedad de la vida" es un tratado filosófico a la vez fundamental y moderno sobre nuestra relación con el tiempo.

When Athenians suffered the shame of having lost a war from their own greed and foolishness, around 404 BCE the public's blame was directed at Socrates, a man whose unique appearance and behavior, as well as his disapproval of the democracy, made him a ready target. Socrates was subsequently put on trial and sentenced to death. However, as René Girard has pointed out, no individual can be held responsible for a communal crisis.

Stoicism School is designed to give you the most in-depth look into the practicalities and concepts of a Stoic mind-set. It is a combination of the following three audiobooks stacked one on top of the other: Master the Ancient Philosophies of Productivity & Peace of Mind, Practical Ways to Harness Your Emotions & Thrive with This Philosophy, and Mindsets & Thinking Tools for Modern Day Success.

This Aristotelian treatise makes up part of the philosopher’s Parva Naturalia, which is Latin for “short treatises on nature”. In this text, he presents his ideas about the human senses. He connects each sense to an element - sight to water, touch to earth, etc. While Aristotle’s view of the senses is scientifically inaccurate in many ways, this treatise is a fascinating read for anyone interested in learning more about how the ancients understood the world.

The Tao Te Ching is a Chinese classic text traditionally credited to the 6th-century BC sage Lao Tzu. The text's authorship, date of composition, and date of compilation are debated. The Tao Te Ching, along with the Zhuangzi, is a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism. It also strongly influenced other schools of Chinese philosophy and religion, including Legalism, Confucianism, and Buddhism, which was largely interpreted through the use of Taoist words and concepts when it was originally introduced to China.

"Nous n'avons pas trop peu de temps, mais nous en perdons beaucoup." Un traité philosophique absolument incontournable et très actuel sur le rapport au temps dans lequel Sénèque nous invite à faire une pause dans nos vies surmenées, à prendre le temps de vivre pleinement.

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman Emperor, the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and one of the most important Stoic philosophers, along with the slave Epictetus. Marcus Aurelius wrote the "Meditations" while in a military campaign; it was a series of notes written for no one but himself in his quest for self-improvement. Stoicism is the attitude allowing one to free oneself from the unnecessary suffering that arises from anxiety about events that are beyond our control; therefore, it can be of tremendous importance in one's life.

Alfred North Whitehead once noted: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato". Plato is indeed considered the most pivotal figure in the development of philosophy, along with his teacher, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle. But his writings are often light, fresh and funny; it was Plato who invented the dialogue in philosophy, which makes a point very easy to follow and the occasion of various scenic arrangements.

Socrates is an enigmatic figure, known chiefly through the accounts of others like Plato and Aristophanes. He was one of the most brilliant intellects ever, and devised what would later be called the Socratic method, which is a way of leading one's interlocutor to see his errors and contradictions through clever questioning before leading him to the truth.

We have selected for you 100 best quotes by Cicero. Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman politician and lawyer, who served as consul in the year 63 BC. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the Roman equestrian order, and is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists. A great quote is very similar to a great thinking and a small poem. It can encapsulate a large web of ideas, thoughts, reflections, emotions in a few words.

Scritta nel 399 a.C. da Platone in seguito alla morte del suo maestro, "l'Apologia di Socrate" è uno dei testi giovanili di Platone. A più di duemila anni da quei tragici fatti, le parole di Platone restano le più attendibili del processo per la condanna a morte del fondatore della filosofia greca antica, parole che ancora oggi possono insegnarci moltissimo e offrirci numerosi spunti di riflessione e analisi.

Lo imaginamos caminando con un aire de desdén, desgarbado y sucio, mofándose de la idea de patria o polis. Vestido con un burdo manto y con su morral a la usanza de su maestro, Diógenes de Sinope, apodado "el Perro", proclamaba ser "ciudadano del mundo", después de renunciar a su fortuna y a su estatus privilegiado. Era la Grecia del siglo IV a. C., recientemente sometida por los ejércitos de Alejandro Magno, y el malestar de la época se manifestaba de varias maneras.