Customer Reviews

Philosophy Before Socrates: An Introduction With Text and Commentary

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Here's what you get: An introduction regarding the history and or life stories of each source. 99% of the existing fragments in McKirahan's own translation. A brief but informative explanation from McKirahan's view of each Philosopher. Rinse, lather, repeat, one chapter for each Pre-Socratic.

I must disagree with the opinion that McKirahan's prose explanations of the fragments are somehow lacking or overly terse - I find he strikes just the right balance between offering theory and explanations for the fragments and going too far in pressing his view. Particularly deft is the way he frames the Milesian School, the "Eleatic Challenge," and the responses to the challenge thereafter. A very nice framework for understanding the evolution of the thought through time.

I was spellbound from start to finish. Not only is the source material interesting, engaging, perplexing, inspiring; but the scholarship offered in support of it by McKirahan is balanced, thoughtful, and never overbearing. Because of its logical layout, its brevity, and its clarity, this is the ultimate textbook for any survey of the Pre-Socratics.

Philosophy Before Socrates by Richard McKirahan overviews pre-Socratic Greek philosophers up to and including the Sophists.

McKirahan's book is crisp and comprehensive providing an accessible scholarly introduction to pre-Socratic thought. Though a survey text , the author rightly highlights the limitations that exist in studying ancient thinkers - a point sometimes overlooked in introductory works. Some readers may also find the cross referencing of documents to other well-known catalogues/indexes such as Diels and Knanz useful.

One small criticism that might be addressed in a subsequent edition is the handling of the so-called "Eleatic challenge" posed by Parmenides. Given that this challenge and its inherent ramifications are especially relevant to many subsequent thinkers it may warrant more clarification, i.e. if one accepts the notion that non-being is logically unthinkable, a plurality of substances and motion seem to be impossible. It is not a clear concept at first glance and, if not clarified, students may be perplexed about its importance.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers seeking an introduction to pre-Socratic philosophers - it is the best introduction to the subject that I have come across. Folks interested in this area may also enjoy a related free on-line ancient philosophy course offered by Howard Ruttenberg of City University of New York (just google Ruttenberg).

This book is not one that I would recommend for free reading, unless you have a strange affinity for ancient presocratic philosophy. However, as a reference book, or a book for learning philosophy, the book ranks among the best. I was introduced to this book in my Philosophy course at UCLA, and this book was an excellent learning tool. The author sets out translated fragments from ancient philosophers and writers, like Parmenides, Aristotle, and Plato. Then, McKirahan does an excellent job of analyzing and explaining the fragments. The book is set up well; it is interesting and makes an EXCELLENT reference book.

(1)Excellent organization of important fragments and texts of the Pre Socratic Philosophy. Very useful indeed.(2)Keep as source book for tight analytical study of arguments. Well segmented and sub-headed. (3)Major convenient ref. book. The only one to have, I guess, in pocketbook. Well documented and quoted. No or little Greek. (Translated when necessary) (4)But author needs to write with more maturity,fluidity ( Really terse prose spoil the mood). Naturally, this can be rectified by reading large doses of Gibbon's Dec. & Fall. (with a good wine vector.) (5)The author must realize that he now has the intelligence to cast a shadow of his own.(6) A delicious book, well worth the expense. However, I recommend supplimenting his book with a photo copy of the schematic and simplified diagram in W.T Jones's History of Phil. Buy it. Not for absolute beginners.But this is to a philosophers advantage.

-Opinions are like noses. Everyone has got one. I use this book often, & useful when reading The Republic ( Books 4 & 5 )