Ancient Books - Page 14

The Karamazov Brothers (The World's Classics)

Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The most magnificent novel ever written 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I cannot take credit for the title of my review - apparently, Sigmund Freud said it first, and, while I cannot say that I would agree with Freud on every subject, I must say, unequivocally, that I agree with his statement about The Karamozov Brothers (with the caveat that, of course, I have not read every novel ever written, so, take the statement for what it's worth).

My only lament regarding this novel is that I cannot read Russian directly; however, as the other reviewers of this book have pointed out, the translation by Avsey is brilliant - there is simply no other way to describe it. I first read Dostoevsky in high school - Crime and Punishment, specifically - I devoured it in a few days, if that. I absolutely loved it. Since then, I have gone on to read other Dostoevsky novels, including The Idiot, and, of course, The Karamozov Brothers. Based upon reading these novels, and many others throughout the course of my life, I must say, truly, that The Karamozov Brothers is the most breathtaking novel I have ever had the pleasure to read in regards to scope, vision, and in capturing the human soul via the written word. When Crime and Punishment and The Idiot are warm up novels to something even greater, well, that's saying something.

As for the book itself, Dostoevsky understands humanity. And, more than that, he is able to somehow capture the essence of a person - their thoughts, desires, fears, in a way that, more than any author I have ever read, makes one feel as if one is not reading a novel, but rather, witnessing real events, and real people, struggle with the great mysteries of life. Reading it is like a peering through a window into the human soul.

Does God exist? Is science a complement to or repudiation of religion? Do we have souls? Is any action permitted, or are there fundamental truths about right and wrong that govern the human reality? Are we responsible for our own actions, and, if yes, then to what extent are we responsible? Are we responsible for the actions of others, and, if yes, then to what extent? Is religion a savior or destroyer of humanity?

While these all seem like pie in the sky questions, theoretical, and wishy-washy - they are in fact as relevant today (as evidenced by the furor over evolution vs. creationism/intelligent design, and the relationship of science and religion) as they were in Dostoevsky's time - and, I am sure, have always been and will always be pivotal questions surrounding the human experience. Further, while these questions are at the heart of the novel - the novel is not just about these questions, but about people, their journey, and how these questions impact and interweave with their, and our, daily lives...from how we treat strangers, to how we treat ourselves, and everyone and everything in between.

Life is rarely black and white, if ever, and it is the dichotomy between right and wrong, good and evil, guilt and innocent, taking responsibility vs. abdicating responsibility - that drives all of us, and that makes each of us who and what we are, for better or ill. It is those same forces that drive The Karamozov Brothers as a novel, and make it a crowning achievement and testimonial to the very essence of humanity itself.

Read it.

Editorial Review:

Dostoevsky's last and greatest novel, The Karamazov Brothers (1880) is both a brilliantly told crime story and a passionate philosophical debate. The dissolute landowner Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov is murdered; his sons--the atheist intellectual Ivan, the hot-blooded Dmitry, and the saintly novice Alyosha--are all involved at some level. Brilliantly bound up with this psychological drama is Dostoevsky's intense and disturbing exploration of many deeply felt ideas about the existence of God, freedom of will, the collective nature of guilt, and the disastrous consequences of rationalism. Filled with eloquent voices, this new translation fully realizes the power and dramatic virtuosity of Dostoevsky's most brilliant work.

Paideia: The Ideals of Greek Culture Volume II: In Search of the Divine Center (Paideia, the Ideals of Greek Culture)

Werner Jaeger

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Work of Arete 5 out of 5 stars.
27 of 27 people found this review helpful.

Anyone with an interest in Ancient Greece must read this book! Jaeger weaves elements of history, anthropology, philosophy, and psychology with masterful dexterity. I've read a number of general texts on Ancient Greek culture. There are some quite good ones out there. H.D.F. Kitto's, The Greeks, is another favorite of mine. Nevertheless, Jaeger's work stands well above the others. He provides a great deal of depth and detail but it never seems to wane as his genius provides a stunning insight on every page. Jaeger uses a concept well-known to classicists, arete, as a synthesizing thread. Paideia, which is roughly equal to our idea of culture, in the sense of 'she is a very cultured woman,' defined the aims and ideals of a Greek education. Arete, a blend of excellence, virtue, nobility, and skill provided a telos for that process of education. Jaeger, using the framework of educational ideals, came to present the true spirit of Ancient Greek culture. This idea, of using educational ideals to survey the depth and breadth of a culture, would rightfully scare a well-educated American. For our educational aims, which are primarily vocational or simply technical, represent a vacuum of higher values and ideals. Even the once powerful currency of 'honor' as a unifying goal has long since expired. A review of Ancient Greece, steeped in values and appreciative of the finest things in life, may rekindle the search and development of values in our own time and place. This book should be a guide for the quest.

Editorial Review:

Werner Jaeger's classic three-volume work, originally published in 1939, is now available in paperback. Paideia, the shaping of Greek character through a union of civilization, tradition, literature, and philosophy is the basis for Jaeger's evaluation of Hellenic culture. Volume I describes the foundation, growth, and crisis of Greek culture during the archaic and classical epochs, ending with the collapse of the Athenian empire. The second and third volumes of the work deal with the intellectual history of ancient Greece in the Age of Plato, the 4th century B.C.--the age in which Greece lost everything that is valued in this world--state, power, liberty--but still clung to the concept of paideia. As its last great poet, Menander summarized the primary role of this ideal in Greek culture when he said: "The possession which no one can take away from man is paideia."

Defence of Socrates, Euthyphro, Crito (Oxford World's Classics)

Plato

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good for beginners. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

For teachers looking for something between a comprehensive collection of the dialogues and a photocopied hand-out, this little edition nicely fits the bill. It's an extremely user-friendly translation with a generous introduction and copious but clear and concise endnotes. The editor admittedly errors on the side of verbosity in the introduction, going to excessive (not to mention gratuitous) lengths to argue that the "Crito" is not inconsistent with the "Apology." Also, rather than substituting "defense" for "apology" and " goodness" for "virtue," he might have accomplished the goal of a clear and accessible edition by giving the reader a bit more credit. Finally, many instructors and readers would understandably be forgiven if they shunned this edition because of its omission of the "Phaedo," the final chapter in the trial, sentencing, and punishment of Socrates.

Editorial Review:

These new translations of the Defence of Socrates, the Euthyphro, and the Crito present Plato's remarkable dramatizations of the momentous events surrounding the trial of Socrates in 399 BC, on charges of irreligion and corrupting the young. They form a dramatic and thematic sequence, raising fundamental questions about the basis of moral, religious, legal, and political obligation. The Introduction provides a stimulating philosophical and historical analysis of these texts, complemented by useful explanatory notes and an index of names.

Ancient Future

Wayne B. Chandler

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Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Important wisdom from the Ancients 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I am surprised to see so few reviews here, as this book has had such an influence on my life. I do not know how to begin to adequately express its significance, and perhaps that is appropriate. Those who are ready for the knowledge will be drawn to it in a time and manner which is right for them.

"When the ears of the student are ready to hear, then cometh the lips to fill them with Wisdom." -- The Kybalion

Ancient Future is a "modern" approach to the ancient wisdom of Kemet, which was passed from lips to ear since pre-diluvian days and then more recently (about a hundred years ago), was recorded in a book entitled "Kybalion". Kybalion has been out of print for a long time, but can be found if you diligently seek it.

Editorial Review:

Ancient Future celebrates the wisdom of those ancient civilizations that did not disassociate the philosophical, spiritual, and material realms of life. This book is an attempt to recreate this holistic experience in hopes that a synthesized view of life will become of the twenty first century.

Hellenistic Philosophy: Introductory Readings

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

great value, useful selections 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 18 people found this review helpful.

classic selections that provide the best remnants of Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Skepticism that has been expanded to include representation of Plutarch and Cicero and some recent papyrological evidence. The collection is especially strong in ethical reasoning.

Great material, odd cuts, disorganized presentation 3 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

I just finished using this text in a graduate course on ancient skepticism. I have to say I was not particularly enamored of the organization of the material. I found the breakdown into subject matter less helpful than a breakdown by source would have been.

That said, the translations are good, read well, and communicate meanings effectively. The sweep of the material is impressive. Some of the cuts and emendations are rather odd, though, particularly in the Sextian Modes. In comparison to Annas and Barnes' translation ("Outlines of Scepticism"), which preserves the complete text, "HP" was lacking.

This book does not offer much in the way of analysis or historical context, either. If you're studying Sextus, go with either of Annas' books (her other is "Modes of Scepticism") as an intro text. If you want a truncated reader in the area, this book will do.

Editorial Review:

This revised edition of "Hellenistic Philosophy" offers an English translation of the account of Stoic ethics by Anus Didysmus, new sources on Epicureanism, Stocism, and Scepticism, expanded representation of Plutarch and Cicero, and a fuller presentation of papyrological evidence.

Classical Thought (History of Western Philosophy Series)

Terence Irwin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

A peculiar and somewhat puzzling book 3 out of 5 stars.
11 of 12 people found this review helpful.

To be honest, I don't quite know what to do with this book. It is somewhat puzzling to me. It isn't a bad book, but it is a peculiar book indeed. It is the first book in a series on the history of western philosophy, but as it's title Classical Thought suggests, there's more here than just philosophy in a strict sense. And there's nothing wrong with that. However, Irwin leaves out some very important stuff in Greek philosophy, and I wonder whether it was worth sacrificing it to be able to broaden the scope of the book. Was it even a necessary sacrifice?

In the 2nd chapter Irwin deals with Homer, Hesiod and the background, one might say, of Greek thought. As Irwin explains in the 1st chapter (the introduction), the starting point is not completely arbitrary. Homer, after all, had a profound influence on all subsequent Greek thought and even philosophy. On the other hand, Irwin leaves out such prominent figures in Early Greek philosophy as Parmenides (who is mentioned only once in the book, during the discussion of St. Augustin), but instead we get to read about the historian Herodotus. Of course, it is perfectly admissible to include Herodotus in a book on classical thought, but I have doubts about doing it at the expense of Parmenides. Irwin has also omitted most of scepticism, as he himself points out in the introduction. Sextus Empiricus and Pyrrhon (thus written in the book) are each only mentioned once in an endnote. Moreover, Empedocles is not mentioned at all. Is it not peculiar that in a book on classical thought, published in a series on the history of western philosophy, the philosopher Empedocles is nowhere mentioned, but the emperor Nero is mentioned three times? Plato's later thought is not discussed nor is there any discussion of ancient logic in the book.

In my oppinion, this book would have benefited greatly if Irwin had added about 25 pages to it; ten or so on the presocratics, ten or so on the sceptics and maybe five on Plato's later thought. I don't know why the editor of the series should refuse to do so. This book is only 288 pages long, whereas Copenhaver and Schmitt's book on Renaissance philosophy (in the same series) is 464 pages long. But even so, I cannot help feel that this is perhaps not the right book to cover antiquity in a series on the history of western philosophy. Perhaps it should have been a book more on hardcore philosophy.

Having said that, I do admit that this book is lucidly written and inviting. It is easy to read and may be of much use to someone wanting quickly to familiarize himself with ancient thought. But as a first introduction to ancient philosophy proper or for a more thorough discussion of any topic in ancient philosophy (whether Irwin discusses it or not) I would have to recommend another book, e.g. Classical Philosophy by Christopher Shield, The Blackwell Guide to Ancient Philosophy or The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy.

Editorial Review:

Covering over 1000 years of classical philosophy from Homer to Saint Augustine, this accessible, comprehensive study details the major philosophies and philosophers of the period--the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Neoplatonism. Though the emphasis is on questions of philosophical interest, particularly ethics, the theory of knowledge, philosophy of mind, and philosophical theology, Irwin includes discussions of the literary and historical background to classical philosophy as well as the work of other important thinkers--Greek tragedians, historians, medical writers, and early Christian writers. The most complete one-volume introduction to ancient philosophy available, the book will be an invaluable survey for students of philosophy and classics and general readers.

The Theology of Arithmetic

Iambilichus, translated by Robin Waterfield

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Lot's of Little Treasures 5 out of 5 stars.
30 of 30 people found this review helpful.

I'm not sure if the books' material or the editor's notes are more useful. The book itself is attributed to Iamblichus but it is not really known whether he actually wrote this particular text. The author does note that the book seems to be more of a compilation of material by Anatonlius and Nicomachus. I actually wondered at many points if this text was written by a student (i.e. student notes from lectures at Plato's academy). None-the-less if you are looking for materials on Pythagorean philosophy, this book is for you. It covers the symbolism attributed to the first ten numbers (the monad through the decad) as well as touching on subjects like Plato's lambda and the Geometric, Arithmetic and Harmonic means. If you have the Pythagorean Sourcebook by Guthrie or Jesus Christ, Sun of God by Fidieler this book will complement those two works nicely (esp. Appendix II of the former). Also, Rene Schwaller's Study of Numbers seems to derive a lot of inspiration from either this text or one like it. Keith Critchlow, who wrote Islamic Patterns, introduces this book and extrapolates on Plato's Lambda in a very interesting way. Also the glossary in the back of this book, explaining Platonic/Pythagorean notions of numbers (perfect, over-perfect, even-odd, etc.) was enlightening. With so many gems of Pythagorean knowledge in such a small space (i.e. less than a hundred pages) - the book definately deserves 5 stars.

Editorial Review:

Attributed to Iamblichus (4th cent. AD), The Theology of Arithmetic is about the mystical, mathmatical and cosmological symbolism of the first ten numbers. Its is the longest work on number symbolism to survive from the ancient world, and Robin Waterfield's careful translation contains helpful footnotes, an extensive glossary, bibliography, and foreword by Keith Critchlow. Never before translated from ancient Greek, this important sourcework is indispensable for anyone intereted in Pythagorean though, Neoplatonism, or the symbolism of Numbers.

The Laws of Plato

Plato

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Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Laws, Plato's longest dialogue, has for centuries been recognized as the most comprehensive exposition of the practical consequences of his philosophy, a necessary corrective to the more visionary and utopian Republic. In this animated encounter between a foreign philosopher and a powerful statesman, not only do we see reflected, in Plato's own thought, eternal questions of the relation between political theory and practice, but we also witness the working out of a detailed plan for a new political order that embodies the results of Plato's mature reflection on the family, the status of women, property rights, criminal law, and the role of religion and the fine arts in a healthy republic.

"Because it succeeds in being both literal and comprehensive, it is by far superior to any translation available. By reproducing dramatic detail often omitted, such as oaths, hesitations, repetitions, and forms of address, Pangle allows the reader to follow the dialogue's interplay between argument and dramatic context. . . . Pangle's translation captures the excitement and the drama of Plato's text."—Mary P. Nichols, Ancient Philosophy

"Pangle's achievement is remarkable. . . . The accompanying interpretive essay is an excellent distillation of a dialogue three times its size. The commentary is thoughtful, even profound; and it amply demonstrates the importance of reading Plato carefully and from a translation that is true to his language."—Patrick Coby, American Political Science Review

Socrates (A History of Greek Philosophy, Vol. 3, Part 2)

W. K. C. Guthrie

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Editorial Review:

The third volume of Professor Guthrie's great history of Greek thought, entitled The Fifth-Century Enlightenment, deals in two parts with the Sophists and Socrates, the key figures in the dramatic and fundamental shift of philosophical interest from the physical universe to man. Each of the two parts is available as a paperback with the text, bibliography and indexes amended where necessary so that each part is self-contained. Socrates dominated the controversies of this period, as he has dominated the subsequent history of western philosophy. He was the first to identify and grapple with some of the most intractable and persistent logical and philosophical problems; but he was also and has remained a highly controversial figure because of his extraordinary personal qualities and his remarkable career. Professor Guthrie offers a balanced and comprehensive picture of the man, his life, and his thought.

The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

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Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle 5 out of 5 stars.
25 of 25 people found this review helpful.

The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle edited by Jonathan Barnes is a is an excellent book. If you are studing Aristotle or just reading him, you've probably gritted your teeth and started to put the reading down for later. Being that most of us do NOT read Greek, we rely on someone who can and the translations do vary. We also need a way to study and a plan to organize our reading in a logical manner.

This book is an excellent choice for that purpose. This book helps to alleviate some of the fears one has in reading a great thinker who is not only difficult and challenging but also complex. The content of this book are as follows: Logic, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Science, Science, Psychology, Ethics, Politics, Rhetoric and poetics. There is an introduction and a suggestions for reading section which are invaluable and help the reader to understand and comprehend what is trying to be said.

If you need help with Aristotle... look no further than this book to help you get organized and to better understand Aristotle. Approach and methods vary from person to person, but if someone has proceeded you in understanding it is prudent to follow those footsteps... then make your interpretation.

The editor has written an excellent chapter on Metaphysics. Metaphysics is one of Aristotle's most difficult books to understand. Here the editor helps the reader to understand it and also how to read Aristotle with a logical approach.

Remember the best aid to reading Aristotle is Aristotle himself. Aristotle is difficult so read him slowly, very slowly, then he is inspiring and gripping. But, it helps to have someone to rely on and this book will help.

Editorial Review:

Aristotle is one of the greatest thinkers in the Western tradition, but also one of the most difficult. The contributors to this volume do not attempt to disguise the nature of that difficulty, but at the same time they offer a clear exposition of the central philosophical concerns in his work. Approaches and methods vary and the volume editor has not imposed any single interpretation, but has rather allowed differences of interpretation to stand.