“This is an impressive book—very useful with nicely schemed arguments. I recommend it very highly.” — Scott Aikin, Vanderbilt University

“An excellent guide to the subject: clear, comprehensive, and accessible.” — Gregory Fried, Suffolk University

“No student of ancient philosophy should be without this resource.” — Jacob Van Vleet, Diablo Valley College

Historical and Cultural Introduction
The Archaic Period / The Classical Period / The Macedonian Empire / The Hellenistic Period / Philosophy

Part I: EARLY ANCIENT GREEK PHILOSOPHY

1. The Milesians and Ionians
The First Phase: The Milesians / The Second Phase: The Ionians / Conclusion

2. Parmenides and Zeno
Parmenides (515-445 BC) / Zeno (490-430 BC) / Melissus of Samos / Conclusion

3. The Pluralists, Atomists, and Sophists
The Fourth Phase: The Pluralists and Atomists / The Fifth Phase: The Sophists / Conclusion

Part II: INTRODUCTION TO SOCRATES AND PLATO

4. Socrates in the Early Dialogues of Plato
The Socratic Dialogues / Philosophical Method / Philosophical Theses / Sophism, Pre-Socratic Thought, and Religion / Socrates's Trial and Death / Conclusion

5. Plato's Views in Development
Introduction to Plato / Some Differences between Socrates and Plato / Plato's Arguments against Sophism / The Protagoras / The Gorgias / The Meno / The Phaedo / Conclusion

6. Plato: Metaphysics and Epistemology
The Theory of Forms / Arguments for the Forms / The Republic / Conclusion

7. Plato: Justice and Love
The Challenges / The Overall Argument / Education / The Ideal State / The Symposium / The Phaedrus / Conclusion

8. Plato: Later Period
The Parmenides / The Theaetetus / The Timaeus / The Sophist and the Statesman / The Laws / Conclusion

Part III: INTRODUCTION TO ARISTOTLE

9. Aristotle: Logic and Science
Some Contrasts with Plato / The Organon: Scientific Method / The Categories / On Interpretation / Logic: The Prior Analytics / The Posterior Analytics / The Topics: Dialectic / Conclusion

10. Aristotle: Physics and Biology
A Brief Overview of the Physics / The Possibility of Change / Natural Change and the Four Causes / Motion / The Infinite / Place / Time / Continuity of Motion / Causes of Motion / On the Universe / Animals / Conclusion

11. Aristotle: Metaphysics
A Brief Overview / Wisdom and the Knowledge of First Principles / Being Qua Being / What Is Substance? / Plato and the Pre-Socratics / Theology / De Anima / Levels of Being Animate / Perception / Reason / Conclusion

12. Aristotle: Ethics, Politics, and Poetics
An Outline of the Nicomachean Ethics / Happiness as the Ultimate End / Happiness and Virtue / Virtues and the Mean / Responsibility / Practical Wisdom / The Intellectual Virtues / Incontinence or Akrasia / Friendship / Overview / The Household and the Polis / Kinds of City-States / The Ideal City-State / The Poetics / Conclusion

Part IV: INTRODUCTION TO HELLENISTIC AND ROMAN PHILOSOPHY

13. Epicureanism: Epicurus and Lucretius
Epicurus (341-270 BC) / Summary of Key Texts / Lucretius (99-55 BC) / Conclusion

14. Stoicism: Zeno of Citium, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius
Zeno of Citium (334-262 BC) / Seneca (1 BC-65 AD) / Epictetus (55-135 AD) / Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD) / Conclusion

15. Skepticism: Pyrrho and Sextus
Pyrrho of Elis (367-275 BC) / Academic Skepticism / Sextus Empiricus (175-225 AD) / Conclusion

Timeline
Glossary of Some Key Greek Terms