ABSTRACT

This book presents some of the most recent trends and developments in Presocratic scholarship. A wide range of topics are covered - from the metaphysical to the moral to the methodological - as well as a broad a range of authors: from recognized figures such as Heraclitus and Parmenides to Sophistic thinkers whose place has traditionally been marginalized, such as Gorgias and the author of the Dissoi Logoi. Several of the pieces are concerned with the later reception and influence of the Presocratics on ancient philosophy, an area of study important both for the light it sheds on our evidence for Presocratic thought and for understanding the philosophical power of their ideas. Drawing together contributions from distinguished authorities and internationally acclaimed scholars of ancient philosophy, this book offers new challenges to traditional interpretations in some areas of Presocratic philosophy and finds new support for traditional interpretations in other areas.

part |2 pages

Part 1 The Milesians

chapter 1|16 pages

Thales and the Stars

chapter 2|6 pages

Greek Law and the Presocratics

part |2 pages

Part 2 Heraclitus and Parmenides

chapter 3|18 pages

Heraclitus and Parmenides

ByDaniel W. Graham, Brigham Young University

chapter 4|20 pages

Parmenidean Being/Heraclitean Fire

ByAlexander Nehamas, Princeton University

chapter 6|14 pages

Parmenides and Plato

chapter 8|16 pages

The Cosmology of Mortals

ByHerbert Granger, Wayne State University

part |2 pages

Part 3 The Pluralists

chapter 9|8 pages

Anaxagoras, Plato and the Naming of Parts

ByDavid Furley, Princeton University, Emeritus

chapter 10|12 pages

Reading the Readings: On the First Person Plurals in the Strasburg Empedocles

ByAndré Laks, Université Charles de Gaulle

chapter 12|10 pages

Democritus and Xeniades

ByJacques Brunschwig, Université de Paris

part |2 pages

Part 4 The Sophists

part |2 pages

Part 5 Transmission, Traditions and Reactions

chapter 19|20 pages

Aetius, Aristotle and Others on Coming to be and Passing away

ByJaap Mansfeld, Universiteit Utrecht

chapter 20|10 pages

The Pervasiveness of Being

ByPaul Thom, Southern Cross University

chapter 22|14 pages

Protagoras’ Great Speech and Plato’s Defense of Athenian Democracy

ByWilliam Prior, Santa Clara University