Encyclopedia Of Classical Philosophy

The only encyclopedia in English specific to the field of Classical Philosophy, this work presents 270 articles on major and minor figures and on topics of importance to the philosophy of Greek and Roman antiquity. The articles present not only succinct historical accounts of their subject matter, but they introduce readers to issues of interpretation and debate in the contemporary scholarly study of the philosophy of the Classical period.

Scholars, students, and interested lay persons will find this volume useful in gaining a comprehensive view of the field. The contributors, representing three continents, are themselves leading scholars of international stature. Topical articles survey areas traditional to philosophy, such as epistemology, ethics, philosophy of mind, and political thought.

Some topical articles focus on specific philosophical concepts and related problems, surveying discussion and debate among the ancient thinkers from the Presocratics to the Neoplatonists. Other articles trace the history of philosophical schools; still others focus on disciplines now distinguished from philosophy, such as science, mathematics, and medicine.

The majority of the articles, however, focus on individual thinkers and their contributions to the traditions of philosophical thought in antiquity. Review: This is a major achievement, which will be an indispensable point of reference for scholars, teachers, and students. The contributors are among the very best people in the subject, and they are working at the top of their form.

The volume is exhaustive in coverage, lucid and accessible in style. Specialists will learn new things from it, and beginners will find it a friendly guide. -Martha Nussbaum Ernst Freund Professor of Law and Ethics The Law School, Department of Philosophy and the Divinity School University of Chicago