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checkers09's review
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Although I like the idea of reading philosophy, a lot of the time I don't particularly enjoy, especially when it concerns ancient philosophy, which is often quite archaic yet still challenging to decipher. However, I found this book really interesting and enjoyable, and rekindled my fascination with Ancient Greek Philosophy.
Given Waterfield covers so many Presocratic and Sophistic Philosophers you would expect his biography of each one to be brief. However, I instead found he managed to discuss all of the key ideas of each philosopher in necessary detail while also weaving how their ideas as we know them today may have been influenced by later writers and also general details about their life and significance in the Greek world.
At the end of each chapter is a list of fragments from the particular Philosopher being discussed, which are referenced continually in Waterfield's account in the chapter. This means his writing remains close to the beliefs of the philosopher and does not go astray and fall into Waterfield, giving his own interpretation.
I must admit I have quite a bit of personal gratitude for this book as it was of invaluable help in my essay on Presocratic Philosophers, in which it always seemed to have an answer to any question I had about a Philosopher's beliefs.
Given Waterfield covers so many Presocratic and Sophistic Philosophers you would expect his biography of each one to be brief. However, I instead found he managed to discuss all of the key ideas of each philosopher in necessary detail while also weaving how their ideas as we know them today may have been influenced by later writers and also general details about their life and significance in the Greek world.
At the end of each chapter is a list of fragments from the particular Philosopher being discussed, which are referenced continually in Waterfield's account in the chapter. This means his writing remains close to the beliefs of the philosopher and does not go astray and fall into Waterfield, giving his own interpretation.
I must admit I have quite a bit of personal gratitude for this book as it was of invaluable help in my essay on Presocratic Philosophers, in which it always seemed to have an answer to any question I had about a Philosopher's beliefs.
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