The Structured Self in Hellenistic and Roman Thought [Hardcover]

Christopher Gill (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 019815268X | ISBN-13: 978-0198152682 | Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Christopher Gill offers a new analysis of what is innovative in Hellenistic--especially Stoic and Epicurean--philosophical thinking about selfhood and personality. His wide-ranging discussion of Stoic and Epicurean ideas is illustrated by a more detailed examination of the Stoic theory of the passions and a new account of the history of this theory. His study also tackles issues about the historical study of selfhood and the relationship between philosophy and literature, especially the presentation of the collapse of character in Plutrarch's Lives, Senecan tragedy, and Virgil's Aeneid. As all Greek and Latin is translated, this book presents original ideas about ancient concepts of personality to a wide range of readers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is difficult to do justice to a book of this scope and richness within the compass of a single review, but there can be no doubt that it will become an indispensable point of reference for researchers working on ancient conceptions of man Teun Tieleman, The Classical Review Gill's book is an important achievement. The author combines the skills of the classical scholar with philosophical sensitivity to argue for a bold and general thesis, while still maintaining attention to detail...Gill's book deserves to have a wide appeal... George Karamanolis RHIZAI Christopher Gill's masterful treatment of the notion of the self in Hellenistic and Roman thought manages to shed remarkable clarity on a complex and fascinating field, even while challenging a prevailing view of the nature of the self in post-classical ancient Greek philosophy This is fascinating work, bringing out the strengths of one of the richest periods in philosophical thought about the person, using insights from modern philosophy merely to clarify, rather than to shape, the philosophical agenda. It is also a very good read. Sylvia Berryman, Journal of the History of Philosophy Gill grapples with some of the toughest problems in ancient psychology, and does so with unusual power and authority This careful and historically grounded analysis shows that the ancient philosophical world held a conception of the person very different from our own and thereby how much their largely alien conception can contribute to contemporary debates. This is a book to be welcomed by ancient philosophy specialists and contemporary enquirers alike. Brad Inwood, Philosophical Quarterly This is the work of a scholar who has fundamentally shaped an entire line of enquiry into human psychology, the passions, selfhood, character, and personhood in ancient philosophy. Gretchen Reydams-Schils, Classical Philology This is a thoughtful and important book. David Konstan, Journal of Hellenic Studies The admirable combination of historical analysis and theoretical arguments that characterize Gill's work will make his book an indispensable reference point for future studies. Mauro Bonazzi, Elenchos, translated from Italian

About the Author

Christopher Gill is Professor of Ancient Thought, University of Exeter.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 019815268X
• ISBN-13: 978-0198152682
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,958,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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