
Rationality in Greek Thought
Clarendon Press
Published on 22. August 1996
Book
Hardback
364 pages
978-0-19-824044-0 (ISBN)
Description
Rationality in Greek Thought - a collection of specially written essays by leading international scholars - fundamentally re-examines ancient ideas of reason and rationality.
Conceptions of reason, rationality, and reasonableness have changed over time, and scholars have all too easily projected contemporary ideas of reason onto ancient thought. This tendency has made it impossible for us fully to understand either the central tenets of ancient philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics, or empiricist tendencies in ancient thought.
Rationality in Greek Thought examines distinctive aspects of ancient conceptions of reason, sharpening awareness of the considerable conceptual change, and helping to remove a serious obstacle to a full understanding of ancient philosophical texts. At the same time, the essays stimulate a re-assessment of our own ideas of reason and rationality, helping us set them in historical context, and explore alternatives to them.
Conceptions of reason, rationality, and reasonableness have changed over time, and scholars have all too easily projected contemporary ideas of reason onto ancient thought. This tendency has made it impossible for us fully to understand either the central tenets of ancient philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics, or empiricist tendencies in ancient thought.
Rationality in Greek Thought examines distinctive aspects of ancient conceptions of reason, sharpening awareness of the considerable conceptual change, and helping to remove a serious obstacle to a full understanding of ancient philosophical texts. At the same time, the essays stimulate a re-assessment of our own ideas of reason and rationality, helping us set them in historical context, and explore alternatives to them.
Reviews / Votes
an excellent volume * T. K. Johansen, Journal of Hellenic Studies * an excellent volume * T. K. Johansen, Journal of Hellenic StudiesDana R. Miller, International Philosophical Quarterly * this volume offers 12 papers and a substantive introduction to the topic by one of the editors. All of the papers are by leading scholars in the field ... There is no comparable volume currently available. Consequently, this anthology should be purchased by all academic libraries supporting graduate programs in philosophy and classics. * Choice * This collection of papers by a group of first-rate ancient philosophers includes some very interesting and new material ... The quality of the papers is very high, and several of them are unquestionably important contributions to scholarship ... These largely excellent essays have much to contribute, I am sure, to our understanding of Greek thinking about rationality. * Christopher Gill, Classical Review * The individual contributions link to the central theme in many different ways; without exception they take issues of fundamental importance and discuss them in a way that all future interpreters will need to take into account. * Phronesis XLII/2 * The editors have assembled a powerful team to explore the ancient philosophers' understanding of rationality ... All the essays are uniformly of high standard and together make a satisfying volume ... It would be a fine tribute to Patzig if this book inspired other scholars to continue the debate about whether ancient rationality was the same as ours. * Times Higher Education Supplement *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Oxford University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
line figures
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
644 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-824044-0 (9780198240440)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Michael Frede | Gisela Striker
Rationality in Greek Thought
Book
10/1999
Oxford University Press
€74.30
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Editor
Professor of the History of PhilosophyProfessor of the History of Philosophy, University of Oxford
Laurence Professor of Ancient PhilosophyLaurence Professor of Ancient Philosophy, University of Cambridge