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A review by uderecife
Battling the Gods: Atheism in the Ancient World by Tim Whitmarsh
4.0
If you, like me, tended to think atheism as a somewhat more recent phenomenon (a product of the European enlightenment), this book will definitely challenge your views.
The author carries us on a historical journey through ancient Greco-Roman history, providing ample examples on how atheism came to be a defensible philosophical position in late antiquity.
On the whole, the book offers an alternative reading of Ancient Philosophy on the lookout for the atheistic positions throughout the scattered and fragmentary evidence of the extant texts. This will broaden your view on how the many philosophical debates were carried, how the ideas came to be and what were ultimately their consequences to the furthering the debate.
With a solid argumentation, a clear style and a compelling narrative, this book is not only insightful as it is also entertaining, making it very easy to read and understand. Even if you do not agree with the author's speculations and liberties in the way he treats the ancient texts, you can rest assured that you will no longer view the history of philosophy in the same way.
The author carries us on a historical journey through ancient Greco-Roman history, providing ample examples on how atheism came to be a defensible philosophical position in late antiquity.
On the whole, the book offers an alternative reading of Ancient Philosophy on the lookout for the atheistic positions throughout the scattered and fragmentary evidence of the extant texts. This will broaden your view on how the many philosophical debates were carried, how the ideas came to be and what were ultimately their consequences to the furthering the debate.
With a solid argumentation, a clear style and a compelling narrative, this book is not only insightful as it is also entertaining, making it very easy to read and understand. Even if you do not agree with the author's speculations and liberties in the way he treats the ancient texts, you can rest assured that you will no longer view the history of philosophy in the same way.