Early Philosophy

In How to Be, Adam Nicolson takes us on a glorious, immersive journey. Grounded in the belief that places give access to minds, however distant and strange, this book reintroduces us to our earliest thinkers through the lands they inhabited. To know the mental occupations of Homer or Heraclitus, one must visit their cities, sail their seas, and find landscapes not overwhelmed by the millennia that have passed but retain the atmosphere of that ancient life. Nicolson takes us to the dawn of investigative thought and a nexus of cross-cultural connection.

Although it was originally published in 1892, Early Greek Philosophy by John Burnet remains unquestionably one of the most respected and admired surveys of the pre-Socratics. It is an illuminating springboard into classical Greek philosophy.

This volume begins with a new translation of the Brahma Sutra and then translates or summarizes the philosophical portions of Shankara's commentary on it. Shankara's Brahma-sutra-bhashya is the most important work in Advaita and represents his mature thought on Brahman and Atman. Three essays (along with one on the non-Advaita Brahma Sutra) explain Shankar's philosophy and reasoning.

Throughout history, great thinkers have explored life, leadership, and self-mastery. This collection presents their most influential works, updated for today’s listeners. Whether seeking guidance on resilience, strategy, or ethics, these timeless classics remain relevant.

India has “philosophy” in the Western sense of the term, and it began early. This book deals with the roots of that philosophical thought. Included here are plain English translations (with notes) of selections of the Rig Veda, Atharva Veda, and especially the classic Upanishads. Also included are five essays to help understand this philosophical reflections. These essays are on the sources of Indian philosophy, knowledge, metaphysics, and ethics, with a specialized essay on “unknowing” in the Isha Upanishad.

“A witty, learned, authoritative survey of philosophical thought.” —The New York Times Book Review The first authoritative and accessible single-volume history of philosophy to cover both Western and Eastern traditions, from one of the world’s most eminent thinkers The story of...

Porphyry’s Against the Christians was the most hard-hitting, incisive, and lengthy critique of Christianity that the ancient world ever knew. It was so dangerous that three Christian emperors wrote decrees ordering it to be burned. The Christians succeeded in destroying it, but they did not destroy—or seek to destroy—the fragments and traces of the work in Christian authors themselves. Thus testimonies and fragments of Porphyry’s great work survive. This is the material translated and commented upon in this book. Its purpose is to correct the errors and massive gaps of R. J. ...

Here, in this second collection of Socratic Dialogues from Plato's Early Period, read by David Rintoul as Socrates with a full cast, are contrasting six works. Often, as with Gorgias, which opens the recording, Socrates combats the popular subjects of sophistry and rhetoric, in direct conversation with Gorgias (a leading sophist teacher), and with one of his pupils, Callicles.

Knowledge and Power: Understanding the Enduring Ideas of Francis Bacon explores the revolutionary thought of one of history’s most important philosophers. Francis Bacon, often called the father of modern science, reshaped the way humanity approaches knowledge, truth, and progress. His vision of experimentation, observation, and inductive reasoning laid the foundations for the scientific method and inspired centuries of discovery. This engaging book guides readers through Bacon’s life and work, from his critique of human bias and the “Idols of the Mind” to his bold belief that ...

Prepare to step into the mind of one of Christianity’s most influential thinkers, Clement of Alexandria. This book is your gateway to understanding how one man’s genius shaped the course of Christian thought, merging the profound wisdom of classical philosophy with the emerging teachings of the early Church. Unlock the Secrets of Ancient Wisdom Clement wasn’t just a scholar; he was a visionary. By delving into this book, you’ll discover how he deftly wove together the threads of Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine, creating a rich tapestry that has endured for centuries. ...

Uncover the Secrets of Genesis: Philo’s Vision of Creation and Humanity Discover the wisdom of Philo of Alexandria in the first volume of The Works of Philo: A Modern Translation, a newly translated four-volume series. Modern, Readable English – Faithful to the Greek text, this translation makes Philo’s ideas accessible without requiring knowledge of ancient languages. Genesis Through a Philosopher’s Eyes – Explore Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, and the giants in thought-provoking allegorical readings. Ethics, Virtue, and the Human Soul – Learn how Philo interprets moral ...

This work is a translation of three early Indian Vajrayana treatises from the Sanskrit by three of the early Buddhist Tantric adepts renowned as Mahasiddhas, numbering by the most accepted account eighty-four, who flourished in the medieval era of India from the 8th-12th centuries C.E. The three authors are related by guru-disciple lineal succession, though the first two Anangavajra and Indrabhuti were most likely contemporaries and the third, Laksimnkara was the sister of Indrabhuti and hence his contemporary also. The treatises expound the world-view of Tantric Buddhism, (a.k.a. as ...

Dive into the captivating world of ancient philosophy with "Democritus for Beginners: The Philosopher Who Laughed at the Universe." This book offers a fascinating look at the life and ideas of Democritus, the visionary thinker who first proposed the atomic theory and whose laughter still echoes through the corridors of history. Engage with Democritus' Life Discover the intriguing story of Democritus, a philosopher who dared to challenge the norms of his time. Learn about his adventurous travels, his insatiable quest for knowledge, and the bold theories that set him apart from his ...

Here are the Socratic Dialogues presented as Plato designed them to be - living discussions between friends and protagonists, with the personality of Socrates himself coming alive as he deals with a host of subjects, from justice and inspiration to courage, poetry and the gods. Plato's Socratic Dialogues provide a bedrock for classical Western philosophy. For centuries they have been read, studied and discussed via the flat pages of books, but the ideal medium for them is the spoken word.

This collection, read by Audie award-winning narrators, includes unabridged recordings of 11 of the most renowned, widely-read, and essential philosophical works from Ancient Greece and Asia to 19th century America, including Meditations, The Republic, and more.

Shortly after the birthing pangs of Christianity's birth subsided it faced a threat to its ideals and existence as we know it today. This threat was an internal one forged in the fires of desire to meld Greek philosophy with Christian teachings. The heat of the debates, books written, and sermons preached resulted in the first, but not well known, schism of the church. In this eight treatise in the Theological Threads series learn how Plato's ideas fractured the early church and how those ideas still threaten to pervert the understanding of Christians today.

This volume continues to trace the development of Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophy in India after its initiator, Nagarjuna. It consists of translations of Sanskrit texts into easily readable English for the general educated public interested in Buddhism or philosophy. Notes and separate Essays dealing with the philosophical content are also included. Presented in this volume are the central philosophical writings of the last two prominent Indian Madhyamikas and two Madhyamaka critiques of the idea of a creator God. Parts of two texts by Chandrakirti are presented: Chapter 6 of Entering the ...

This book provides readers new to Augustine with an introduction to five thought-provoking passages in the Confessions. Readers already familiar with Augustine will delight in revisiting these same passages and considering them more deeply. The author, Oswald Sobrino, holds an M.A. in Theology from a Catholic seminary, among other degrees (including a J.D.), and has studied Latin, ancient Greek, classical Hebrew, biblical Aramaic, Syriac, and French at the University of Michigan. The following "study" or "reflection" questions reflect some of the main themes of the book: 1. The Gospel calls...

A deeply original exploration of the power of spontaneity—an ancient Chinese ideal that cognitive scientists are only now beginning to understand—and why it is so essential to our well-being Why is it always hard to fall asleep the night before an important meeting? Or be charming and...

Would you like to discover, together with your kids, the secrets to smart economical choices in life? Ask Aiden the brave sailor. When his boat sinks off the shores of a distant kingdom, Aiden is captured by the guard and becomes the king's prisoner. The kingdom is going through difficult economic times, and the king is left helpless. Will Aiden's economic advice help the king to save his kingdom? Will Aiden win his freedom back? A must-have intriguing tale for children and their parents that will explain how simple economics really works.