Handbook of Greek Philosophy: From Thales to the Stoics: Analysis and Fragments [Paperback]

Nikolaos Bakalis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 24, 2005

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, 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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nikolaos Bakalis was born in Northern Greece in 19th November 1957. He studied at school of sciences of Arisotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece. He has been studying for twenty five years Ancient Greek Philosophy and has a Doctorate in Greek Philosophy. He is a High School teacher and lives in Germany since 2000.

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publshing; Revised edition (May 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1412048435
• ISBN-13: 978-1412048439
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,428,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nikolaos Bakalis was born in Northern Greece and graduated from the School of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessalonica Greece. He has studied many years philosophy and specialized in Greek philosophy and philosophy of science (PhD). He has been a High School teacher, spent some years in London and since 2000 has lived in Dusseldorf, Germany. He is Mentor of the Online School of Philosophy `Pathways to Philosophy', UK. He is currently working on philosophical research at the University of Wuppertal, Germany.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary guide to Greek philosophy (updated August 14, 2007), August 18, 2005

By 

Hypatia "student of philosophy" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Greek Philosophy: From Thales to the Stoics: Analysis and Fragments (Paperback)

This fascinating study of fifteen Greek philosophical schools was a great help to me, since it enabled me to understand the concepts and the principles of the Greek philosophers, thanks to its clarity of expressions and the essential analysis of the original fragments. Due to this, I was able to fathom gradually and without any difficulty the reasoning of the Ancient Greek philosophers, for before I was all at sea in all the innumerable existing works about Greek philosophy. I regard this substantial and scientific work as indispensable tool for the study of Greek philosophy also because of its references to the original works of the great Greek thinkers.

Last month I read the new revised edition and I found that the technical weaknesses of the last edition have been really improved. The author goes progressivelly into the matter, and by the use of every day language achieves to develop and to explain very difficult philosophical concepts. So to say, he really introduces you the subject itself. His essential and clear interpretation, with very good supporting quotations, stimulates the reader and makes him aware of the great philosophical questions. Due to these qualities I strongly recommend this book both to beginners and students of philosophy.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illuminating and useful tool for the student of classical philosophy, January 9, 2006

By 

Sisyphus (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Greek Philosophy: From Thales to the Stoics: Analysis and Fragments (Paperback)

Although a philosophical work, I found this book immensely stimulating and made me want to read more and more. Its gradual development of the concepts, its clear and essential interpretation of the Greek philosophers' sayings, along with its references to their works helps the reader to achieve a great deal of understanding. To sum up, the references to the Greek philosophical terms, which are very well interpreted, make the book an illuminating and useful guide for any student of philosophy.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant interpretation, June 25, 2006

By 

Cheiron (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handbook of Greek Philosophy: From Thales to the Stoics: Analysis and Fragments (Paperback)

I find most of the reviews really enlightening on the qualities of the book; so to say ` an excellent guide and interpretation of Greek philosophy and not a mere collection of translated texts of the Greek thinkers'. However, I would not agree with such a discriminating proposal as `to rewrite the book in native speaking English', unless we mean to suggest that Leibniz and Beckett's excellent writings in French and Wittgenstein's works in English should be rewritten by a native language speaking person.

The author, by developing progressively the concepts and due to his brilliant interpretation of the different philosophical schools of thought, leads the reader to gradual comprehension of the Greek philosophical conceptions. The `Doric' style of the language (poor), following the Greek philosophical tradition, does not interfere with the reader's understanding, but on the contrary develops a feeling of immediacy and prompts the student to go on and to search through the original writings of the philosophers by himself. All that makes the book valuable as a guide and introduction to Greek philosophy, because it increases the reader's awareness of philosophical questions and consequently it is getting more people interested in philosophy.