v. 1

Classical Thought

by Terence H. Irwin

Published 23 February 1989
This text assesses 1,000 years of classical thought, from Homer to Saint Augustine and aims to cover the whole spectrum of ancient thought, without allowing Plato and Aristotle to dominate, and stressing the variety and continuity of philosophical thinking after Aristotle. The major philosophers and philosophies are examined - the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoicism, Epicureanism and Neoplatonism as well as the Greek tragedians, historians, medical writers and early Christian writers. The emphasis is on questions of philosophical interest, although the literary and historical background to classical philosophy is not ignored, and again the author aims to cover a broad scope of topics - ethics, the theory of knowledge, philosophy of the mind and philosophical theology. Terence Irwin is the author of "Plato's Moral Theory", "Plato's Gorgias" and "Aristotle's First Principles".