Ancient Philosophy: Essential Readings with Commentary

List of Sources.

Chronology.

Map 1 The Greek World (6th–5th centuries BCE).

Map 2 The Hellenistic Period (323–31 BCE).

Map 3 The Late Roman Empire.

General Introduction.

I: The Presocratics and Sophists:.

1. The Milesians: Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes.

2. Xenophanes of Colophon, Heracleitus of Ephesus, and Pythagoras of Samos.

3. The Eleatics: Parmenides, and Zeno of Elea and Melissus of Samos.

4. The Pluralists: Empedocles of Acragas and Anaxagoras of Clazomenae.

5. The Atomists: Leucippus of Elea (or Miletus) and Democritus of Abdera.

6. The Sophists: Protagoras of Abdera, Gorgias of Leontini, and Antiphon.

II: Xenophon:.

Introduction.

7. Memorabilia.

III: Plato:.

Introduction.

8. Euthyphro.

9. Apology.

10. Crito.

11. Meno.

12. Phaedo.

13. Symposium.

14. Republic.

15. Parmenides.

16. Timaeus.

IV: Aristotle:.

Introduction.

17. Categories.

18. On Interpretation.

19. Physics.

20. On the Soul.

21. Metaphysics.

22. Nicomachean Ethics.

23. Politics.

V: Diogenes the Cynic:.

Introduction.

24. Diogenes Laertius, Life of Diogenes.

VI: Epicurus and Epicureanism:.

Introduction.

25. Epicurus, Letter to Herodotus; Letter to Menoeceus; Principle Doctrines.

26. Lucretius, On the Nature of Things.

VII: Stoics and Stoicism:.

Introduction.

27. Diogenes Laertius on Stoicism.

28. Epictetus, Manual.

VIII: Skeptics and Skepticism:.

Introduction.

29. Diogenes Laertius, Life of Pyrrho.

30. Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Pyrrhonism.

31. Sextus Empiricus, Against the Professors.

IX: Neoplatonism:.

Introduction.

32. Plotinus, Enneads.

33. Proclus, On Evil.

Bibliography.

Recommended Further Reading (English-Language Sources).

Index.