Reading list for philosophy
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Introduction to Philosophy
Philosophy 101 by Socrates: An Introduction to Philosophy Via Plato's Apology
A delightful introduction to philosophy that has been popular with college students required to take an Introduction to Philosophy course and were pleasantly surprised with this text. In addition, it is an introduction to philosophy via classic Platonic dialogues and Socrates. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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LEISURE THE BASIS OF CULTURE
This book is on the spirit of the liberal arts, including philosophy, in ancient and medieval culture. It argues that leisure, properly understood as the ancients understood it, is the basis of culture and that culture is the cultivation of the virtues of the human spirit. In the second part of this book, philosophy is covered. It is shown in the ancient view to be a quest of the human spirit, animated by Eros, that arises out of wonder (thaumazein) and develops into contemplation (theoria, a word related to thaumazein in the Greek). Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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In Defense of Philosophy
This book builds on the book by Pieper above. Here it shows that the ancient philosophical quest was a spiritually transformative quest that involved the whole person but also involved the use, cultivation, and perfection of the logical and reasoning powers as well as Eros as the animating spirit of the philosophical quest. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Philosophy: An Introduction to the Art of Wondering
A fun introduction to philosophy as an intellectual adventure in terms of our common human questions about "the big picture". Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Apology for Wonder
This book is an unusual introduction to philosophy by examining and contrasting ancient with modern views of the world. Do we look upon the world with wonder and as sacred or do we see it as raw material for our growing technological power over it? This book nicely supplements the Pieper book on Leisure above. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
Introduction to Ancient Philosophy
What Is Ancient Philosophy?
Pierre Hadot, an internationally prominent French historian of ancient philosophy, describes the history of ancient philosophy as a way of life similar to eastern spiritual disciplines or western monastic orders. This book continues the themes of his Philosophy as a Way of Life. Hadot is Professor of Ancient Philosophy at the College de France. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Retrieving the Ancients: An Introduction to Greek Philosophy
Widely reviewed as one of the best introductions to ancient philosophy and its continued importance. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Roman Philosophers
The most accessible single volume introductory survey on specifically Roman philosophy. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Being a Man: The Roman Virtus As a Contribution to Moral Philosophy (European Studies in the History of Science and Ideas)
This is a philosophical study of the Roman view of manliness, virtus, as a virtue. As a contribution to the our understanding of ancient Roman moral concepts and ideals, the book proceeds to a broader perspective of how the Roman concept of virtus as a virtue fitted in with the other cardinal virtues esteemed in the ancient world. Contributed by Gnaeus Equitius Marinus
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Roman Manliness: "Virtus" and the Roman Republic
Myles McDonnell shows how Roman manliness was expressed and displayed by contest in the religion, culture, and politics of the late Republic. Contributed by Gnaeus Equitius Marinus
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Introduction to Ancient Logic
Socratic Logic 3e: A Logic Text Using Socratic Method, Platonic Questions, and Aristotelian Principles
This is one of two good introductions in training one how to reason in ancient logic. Modern logic books deal with logic from the standpoint of boolean logic. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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An Introduction To Traditional Logic: Classical Reasoning For Contemporary Minds
This is the other good introduction to ancient logic that also shows how it is the logic natural to how the human mind works. It includes a great introduction to ancient theories of the mind and cognition as part of its discussion of logic. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy (General)
History of Philosophy: Greece and Rome, Volume One
This volume and the eight volumes after it comprise what is widely regarded as the best history of philosophy in English. It was originally written for Catholic seminary students but has been elevated to a much higher status of acclaim in academia. Copleston is at Oxford. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Medieval Philosophy, Volume Two
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Late Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, Volume Three
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy, From Descartes to Leibnitz, Volume Four
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy, The British Philosophers From Hobbes to Hume, Volume Five
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy, From the French Enlightenment to Kant, Volume Six
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy, From the Post-Kantian Idealists to Marx, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche, Volume Seven
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy, Empiricism, Idealism And Pragmatism in Britain and America, Volume Eight
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Philosophy: Modern Philosophy, From the French Revolution to Sartre, Camus, and Levi Strauss, Volume Nine
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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History of Ancient Philosophy
Ancient Philosophy: A New History of Western Philosophy
This highly acclaimed history of ancient philosophy is unique in that it has two main sections. The first section is a history of the different schools of ancient philosophy. The second section puts them into a dialogue, as it were, in terms of key themes and issues in the philosophical conversation. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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From the Origins to Socrates: A History of Ancient Philosophy (SUNY Series in Philosophy), Volume One.
One of the standard multi-volume histories of ancient philosophy. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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A History of Ancient Philosophy: Plato and Aristotle (Suny Series in Philosophy), Volume Two
Volume Two of the series mentioned above. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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The Systems of the Hellenistic Age: History of Ancient Philosophy (SUNY Series in Philosophy), Volume Three
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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A History of Ancient Philosophy: The Schools of the Imperial Age (SUNY Series in Philosophy), Volume Four
The final volume in Reale's four volume history of ancient philosophy. This mult-volume history incorporates a lot of new research. Giovanni Reale is Professor and Chair of History of Ancient Philosophy at the Catholic University of Milan, italy. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Socratic Schools
Academic Philosophy (Platonist Schools)
Cynicism
Peripatetic (Aristotle and Aristotelian Philosophy)
Stoicism
Epicureanism
The Epicurus Reader
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Lucretius; On the Nature of things
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Lucretius and Epicurus
Paradosis and survival : three chapters in the history of Epicurean philosophy
Prosopography of Roman Epicureans from the second century B.C. to the second century A.D.
The sculpted word : Epicureanism and philosophical recruitment in ancient Greece
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Live unnoticed = (Lathe biōsas) : on the vicissitudes of an Epicurean doctrine
Pythagoreanism
The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library: An Anthology of Ancient Writings Which Relate to Pythagoras and Pythagorean Philosophy
This is a useful one volume compilation of all the original source material that would require searching in multiple classical sources - some very obscure and hard to find. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Pythagoras: His Life, Teaching, and Influence
Outstanding book in the history of the Pythagorean school. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Lore and Science in Ancient Pythagoreanism
One of the indispensible studies of ancient Pythagorean philosophy and science. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans: A Brief History
A very accurate and clear survey of the history of the Pythagorean tradition. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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The Manual of Harmonics of Nicomachus the Pythagorean
This is the only complete English translation of the Pythagorean philosopher and engineer, Nicomachus of Gerasa. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Diogenes Laertius: Lives of Eminent Philosophers,
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The Pythagorean golden verses : with introduction and commentary
On the Pythagorean way of life
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Ancient philosophy, mystery, and magic : Empedocles and Pythagorean tradition
Pagan Philosophers On Christianity
On the True Doctrine: A Discourse Against the Christians
A highly acclaimed new translation and critical restoration of this pagan philosophical response to the rise of Christianity by R. Joseph Hoffman who adds a very fine critical introduction, places the material in historical context, and has very illuminating footnotes. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Porphyry's Against the Christians: The Literary Remains
Another work, among three, of R. Joseph Hoffman's critical restoration and new translation of historical works by pagans on Christianity. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Julian's Against the Galileans
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Romano-Byzantine Philosophy (n.b. the Eastern Roman Empire did not fall until C.E. 1453.)
Byzantine Philosophy
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Byzantine Philosophy and Its Ancient Sources
Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Byzantine Magic
This might seem to be a strange title to add to a philosophy reading list. Among other things, this book covers the continuation of Pythagorean, Hermetic, and Neoplatonic magical practices that were passed on to the Russians and the northern Italian Renaissance after the fall of New Rome (Constantinople is a nickname meaning "Constantine's city") in C.E. 1453. Contributed by A. Sempronius Regulus
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Master Index
Master Index
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