Handbook of Greek Philosophy is a real guide for anyone who wants to know about Ancient Greek philosophy, but he does not know how to start. Since there are thousands of writings about it, the one who is eager to be informed of Greek philosophy, is all at sea. With the present study one can be gradually initiated into the main principles of the great philosophers, whose thought is the basis of the modern philosophical thought.
Due to chronological presentation of the fifteen Greek philosophical schools, the reader can gradually get to the understanding of the philosophical terms and concepts, beginning with the simple (of Thales, Anaximander etc..) and proceeding to the most complex ones (Plato, Aristotle etc..).
The original fragments, which have been carefully selected out of thousands, along with their thorough analysis, can enable the reader to fathom the reasoning of the Greek thinkers, and acquire a deep comprehension of their Gnoseology (Epistemology), Ontology and Ethics.
With this substantial work of scholarship, both the student and the teacher of philosophy alike can find useful concepts, ideas and quotations, so as to broaden their knowledge and views of philosophy. Apart from that, this essay can help them to make a further inquiry concerning Ontology and Ethics of Greek Philosophy.
CONTENTS: I. Introduction 3, II. Ancient Greek philosophers 5, A. Presocratics 5, 1. Thales 5, 2. Anaximander 8, 3. Anaximenes 11, 4. Pythagoras 12, Numerology – Geometry - Music 13, Cosmogony – Soul 16, Pythagorean Mysticism 17, Ethics – Golden Verses 19, 5. Heraclitus 26, Bipolarity- Opposites 27, Logos 30, Gnoseology – Virtues 32, Soul – Happiness 36, 6. Parmenides 46, 7. Empedocles 60, 8. Anaxagoras 75, 9. Democritus 81, Atoms – Cosmogony 81, Soul 84, Gnoseology 85, Good Spirits – Virtues 88, 10. The Sophists 101, B. Socrates 103, C. Plato 104, Cosmogony 106, Parts of the Soul – Gnoseology 109, Immortality of the Soul 120, Ideas – Dialectic 125, Virtue of the Good itself – Justice 128, Pleasure – Happiness 137, D. Aristotle 143, Cosmogony 144, Goods – Virtue 150, Parts of the Soul 152, Virtues of each part of the Soul 156, Gnoseology 164, Pleasure – Happiness 170, The “mean” into action 176, Friendship 181, Justice 184, E. Epicurus 191, Gnoseology – Method of Canon 193, Physical Science 197, Soul 202, Pleasure – Peace of Mind 204, Virtues 212, F. Stoicism 218, ‘Up to us’ and ‘Indifferents’ 219, Logos – Controlling part 223, Philosophical Training–Apatheia 225, III. Conclusions – Epilogue 236, Bibliography 242
Nikolaos Bakalis was born in Northern Greece in 1957 and graduated from the School of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece. He has studied many years philosophy and specialized in Greek Philosophy. He has been a High School teacher, spent some years in London and since 2000 has lived in Dusseldorf, Germany. He is active member of the ‘International Society for Philosophers’ and Mentor of the Online School of Philosophy `Pathways to Philosophy’. He is currently working on philosophical research at the University of Wuppertal.