Roman Philosophy

Senecas "Von der Kürze des Lebens", verfasst im 1. Jahrhundert nach Christus, ist eine eindringliche Reflexion über die Art und Weise, wie wir unsere Lebenszeit nutzen–oder verschwenden. Seneca mahnt uns, nicht der Illusion zu erliegen, das Leben sei zu kurz. Ganz im Gegenteil: Wir vergeuden es mit Nebensächlichkeiten, Ablenkungen und falschen Prioritäten.

Throughout the Roman Empire cities held public speeches and lectures, had libraries, and teachers and professors in the sciences and the humanities, some subsidized by the state. There even existed something equivalent to universities, and medical and engineering schools. What were they like? What did they teach? Who got to attend them? In the first treatment of this subject ever published, Dr. Richard Carrier answers all these questions and more.

Die APOLOGIE ist die literarische Wiedergabe und Gestaltung der Verteidigungsrede Sokrates vor dem athenischen Gericht im Jahr 399 v.d.Z. durch den philosophischen Schriftsteller Platon. Der betagte Sokrates, deren Schüler Platon war, ist vor dem ›Volksgericht‹ der athenischen Polis, einer Auswahl von 500 Bürgern, der Asebie, der Gotteslästerung und Verführung der Jugend Athens angeklagt. Im Falle der Verurteilung droht ihm die Todesstrafe in der für ihn als athenischen Bürger privilegierten Form der Verabreichung eines Gift-Trankes, eines Schierlings-Bechers.

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.

En estas meditaciones que se presentan bajo la forma de cartas a su amigo Lucilio, Séneca, uno de los mayores exponentes del estoicismo, nos invita a un viaje de introspección y reflexión. Escritas en un momento de crisis política y personal, las misivas no solo tratan temas filosóficos como el paso del tiempo y la naturaleza del mundo, sino que ofrecen consejos prácticos sobre cómo vivir una vida serena y feliz, enfrentando la adversidad con entereza y sabiduría.

What is love? In poetry, songs, fiction, movies, psychology, and philosophy, love has been described, admired, lamented, and dissected in endless ways. Is love based on physical attraction? Does it bring out our better selves? How does it relate to sex? Is love divine? Plato's Symposium is one of the oldest, most influential, and most profound explorations of such questions—it is even the source of the idea of "Platonic love."

The Catholic Church has a history that spans over 2,000 years, and it began with none other than Jesus Christ himself. At least, that is what modern popes believe. But at first, there was just one church, and there was no division between Catholics, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and other branches of Christianity. Christians all over the known world were united, and together, they made their spirituality bloom. Their religion took over the lives of villagers, nobles, kings, queens, and even newly arrived pagan armies that came to conquer Europe.

La pensée antique est au fondement de l'histoire des idées et de la philosophie occidentale. Fondamentalement pratique et axée sur le quotidien, elle est marquée par le stoïcisme et la recherche de la sagesse sous toutes ses formes. Découvrez-en toute la profondeur en 400 citations soigneusement choisies pour présenter sous forme condensée les enseignements majeurs des figures incontournables de la Grèce antique.

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. In ancient Athens, Socrates was widely known as a "gadfly", that is, an annoying insect buzzing at people's ears, because he kept questioning prejudices and contradictions; he was eventually tried and executed for "corrupting the minds of the youth".

Take a journey through the ancient history of the Jewish people, a proud and stubborn people who desired to retain their freedom and uniqueness. They fought for this ideal for centuries with various success, but then came the mighty Roman Empire. At first, the Romans were their allies, but they eventually conquered the Jewish state into their vast realm.

The Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus was one of the most influential teachers of his era, imperial Rome, and his message still resonates with startling clarity today. Alongside Stoics like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, he emphasized ethics in action, displayed in all aspects of life. Merely learning philosophical doctrine and listening to lectures, they believed, will not do one any good unless one manages to interiorize the teachings and apply them to daily life.

Alexander the Great changed the world that he knew—but how he did it, and how much of his story is truth and how much is invented, is hard to tell. One of our most important sources for his achievements and personality is Plutarch's Life of Alexander, and this is the first detailed commentary on it for over fifty years, along with a thorough introduction and translation. It is a sister volume to the author's 2011 edition (also in the Clarendon Ancient History Series) of Plutarch's Caesar, the Life paired with Alexander in Plutarch's series of Parallel Lives.

Philosophy is the study of problems concerning matters as fundamental as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Pythagoras (c. 570–495 BC) is said to have coined the term.

Meditations is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from AD 161 to 180, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine, Greece as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement.

In 45 BCE, the Roman statesman Cicero fell to pieces when his beloved daughter, Tullia, died from complications of childbirth. But from the depths of despair, Cicero fought his way back. In an effort to cope with his loss, he wrote a consolation speech—not for others, as had always been done, but for himself. And it worked. Cicero's Consolation was something new in literature, equal parts philosophy and motivational speech.

In the complex tapestry of life, the brilliance of Marcus Aurelius serves as a guiding beacon. Within his personal reflections, meticulously crafted with profound insight, the revered Stoic philosopher-emperor imparted timeless wisdom that continues to inspire generations.

¿Te sientes abrumado por la complejidad del mundo actual? ¿Buscas la paz interior, pero sientes que estás estancado en tu crecimiento personal? No estás solo. El caos de la vida moderna deja a muchas personas en busca de soluciones prácticas para encontrar calma y equilibrio. Descubre el poder del estoicismo, una filosofía antigua con herramientas prácticas para superar desafíos y hallar paz en un mundo caótico.

Epikur: Mit den hochaktuellen Ideen des antiken Philosophen zu einem freudvollen, erfüllten und glücklichen Leben. Sie fragen sich öfters nach dem Sinn des Lebens – doch eigentlich denken Sie, dass es vor allem darum geht, Freude zu erleben? Dann sind Sie in bester Gesellschaft! Denn genau darum geht es bei Epikurs Lehren und wie Sie mit seinen zeitlosen Erkenntnissen zum Lebensglück gelangen, erfahren Sie in diesem Hörbuch. Maximaler Lustgewinn als höchstes Ziel im Leben – wohl kaum ein Philosoph ist so oft missverstanden worden wie Epikur.

“Met stoïcijnse rust”: zo spreekt men over mensen die schijnbaar door niets uit hun evenwicht te brengen zijn – en dat zou u misschien ook vaker voor uzelf willen? Dan zou u eens een kijkje moeten nemen bij de echte Stoa, en dit boek laat u zien hoe stoïcisme eenvoudig toepasbaar wordt in het dagelijks leven! Zonder emotie reageren op gebeurtenissen en u niet laten raken door vreugdevolle momenten, ergernissen of tegenslagen: dit Stoa-stereotype lijkt onmogelijk en weinig nastrevenswaardig – maar iets meer controle over uw innerlijke leven zou best fijn zijn, toch.

“Con una calma stoica”: così si parla di persone che sembrano non lasciarsi mai turbare da nulla – e forse vorreste lo stesso più spesso anche per voi stessi? Allora dovreste dare un’occhiata alla vera Stoa, e questo libro vi mostrerà come lo stoicismo possa essere facilmente applicato alla vita di tutti i giorni! Reagire agli eventi senza emozione e non lasciarsi toccare da situazioni gioiose, seccature o colpi del destino: questo stereotipo della Stoa sembra impossibile e poco desiderabile – ma non sarebbe utile avere un po’ più di controllo sul proprio mondo interiore?