Ancient Philosophy and Everyday Life [Hardcover]

Trevor Curnow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

'Ancient Philosophy and Everyday Life' is an introduction to Cynicism, Stoicism, Epicureanism and Scepticism. After a general account of the nature of ancient philosophy, it looks at each of these four particular schools in turn, outlining their histories and their doctrines. Special attention is paid to how these philosophies formed the bases for distinctive ways of life in antiquity. It is shown how their founders not only articulated the fundamental ideas of their schools but also embodied them in their own lives. Some of the more colourful characters of ancient philosophy appear here, including Diogenes of Sinope who lived in a wine barrel and Peregrinus Proteus who died by climbing onto his own funeral pyre at the Olympic Games. Consideration is also given to whether it would be possible to live like an authentic Cynic, Stoic, Epicurean or Sceptic today and if so, how. The ideas of the schools are clearly explained with a minimum of technical jargon, making this an ideal introduction for anyone with an interest in the subject.

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About the Author

Trevor Curnow is Reader in Philosophy at St Martin's College, Lancaster. He has also taught philosophy at Lancaster University, the Open University, the University of Central Lancashire and the University of Khartoum. His previous writings include Wisdom, Intuition and Ethics (Ashgate, 1999), Thinking through Dialogue (Practical Philosophy Press, 2001), The Oracles of the Ancient World (Duckworth, 2004) and The Philosophers of the Ancient World: an A to Z guide (Duckworth, 2006).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 104 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1847180426
• ISBN-13: 978-1847180421
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,645,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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