Hellenistic Philosophy

Description

John Sellars presents a broad and lively introduction to Hellenistic philosophy (c.330-30 BC). This was a rich period for philosophy, with the birth of Epicureanism and Stoicism, alongside the activities of Platonists, Aristotelians, and Cynics. Sellars offers accessible coverage of all areas from epistemology to ethics and politics.

• Offers an accessible and comprehensive introduction to Hellenistic philosophy
• Cross-referenced to the standard collections of ancient texts that are used in teaching
• Further resources include guides to Hellenistic philosophers and relevant further reading
• Also provides a chronology for the period to provide context

About the Author(s)

John Sellars, Lecturer in Philosophy, Royal Holloway, University of London

John Sellars is a Lecturer in Philosophy at Royal Holloway, University of London, and a Visiting Research Fellow at King's College London. He is also a member of Wolfson College, Oxford, having previously been a Junior Research Fellow. He is the author of The Art of Living: The Stoics on the Nature and Function of Philosophy (2003) and Stoicism (2006). He recently edited The Routledge Handbook of the Stoic Tradition (2016).

Table of Contents

Introduction
1:What, When, Where, and Who
2:Knowledge
3:Nature
4:The Self
5:The Good
6:Free Will
7:Finitude
8:Community
9:What was Hellenistic Philosophy?
Appendix: Looking East
Chronology
Guide to Hellenistic Philosophers
Guide to Further Reading
Index of Passages

Reviews

"...important and interesting ideas..." - New Testament Abstracts

"John Sellars offers an engaging and useful new contribution to the field, likely to appeal to undergraduates, graduate students, and interested non-experts." - Jenny Bryan, University of Manchester, Greece & Rome

"Hellenistic Philosophy, written masterfully by John Sellars, is the definitive guide to this fundamental period of philosophy....much more than just an introduction to an essential philosophy. I would recommend this oeuvre to anyone who loves history, has an interest in philosophy or wants to widen the reach of the therapeutic value of philosophy." - Aline Maya Paredes, Metapsychology Online Reviews

"Sellars has written an excellent introduction to Hellenistic philosophy. I will certainly use it in my teaching, and I recommend it very strongly to other teachers." - Peter Aronoff, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"fascinating ... This important work makes a compelling case for the value of Hellenistic philosophy and, in particular, for a reappraisal of the value of Cicero as both a scholiast and a philosopher in his own right. Sellars concludes by calling for scholars to begin investigating Indo-Greek philosophy as part of Hellenistic philosophy, a welcome suggestion ... Highly recommended." - G. J. Reece, CHOICE