Re-reading the first chapters of Kenny's History can be a truly enlightening experience. It allows us to delve deeper into the events and ideas that shaped the past.

As we go through the text, we notice details that might have escaped our attention during the initial reading. We gain a better understanding of the context in which historical events took place, and how they influenced the course of history.

Moreover, re-reading Kenny's History gives us the opportunity to reflect on our own perspectives and biases. We can compare our initial interpretations with those that emerge from a more careful and considered reading.

In conclusion, re-reading the first chapters of Kenny's History is a valuable exercise that can enhance our knowledge and understanding of the past. It encourages us to think critically and engage with the text on a deeper level, ultimately leading to a more enlightened perspective.

Interesting collection if you're into that kind of thing. However, the author's interpretations and commentary aren't always great. It seems that while the collection itself may have some appeal, the way the author presents and analyzes it leaves something to be desired. There are times when the interpretations feel a bit forced or not fully developed. The commentary could also be more in-depth and thought-provoking. Maybe the author could have done more research or consulted with other experts in the field to enhance the quality of the interpretations and commentary. Despite these drawbacks, the collection still has its merits and may be worth exploring for those who are interested in the subject matter.

A favorite read that I often return to serves as an exercise for personal inquiry and a supplement to any tangent within the natural sciences that I might be delving into at a given moment.

This particular book holds a special place in my heart as it offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. It allows me to explore different aspects of the natural world and encourages me to ask questions and seek answers on my own.

Whether I'm reading about biology, chemistry, physics, or any other branch of the natural sciences, this read always manages to provide additional perspectives and insights that enhance my understanding. It's like a trusted companion that I can rely on to expand my intellectual horizons and fuel my curiosity.

Moreover, it serves as a reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and how much there is still to discover and learn. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the natural sciences or a desire for personal growth and exploration.

A SUPERB COLLECTION OF THE EXTANT WRITINGS OF THE PRESOCRATICS

Editor Philip Wheelwright, an American philosopher, classical scholar, and literary theorist, held professorships at Dartmouth College and the University of California. In this 1966 book, he presents a critically full collection of quotations and ancient testimonies about early Greek philosophical writings, mainly from the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. He exercised his judgment to include authenticated fragments and testimonia that could shed light on the relevant doctrines.

The early Greek philosophers, whose writings survive only in fragments, are of unique value for those interested in the intellectual history of mankind. The period between Thales and Democritus shows an unparalleled development in the art of philosophical inquiry, with a combination of conceptual imagination, linguistic precision, and concern for intellectual consistency.

Wheelwright discusses various philosophers. Xenophanes was the first to apply clear reasoning to the problem of God's nature. Thales, the founder of the Milesian school, applied his knowledge to astronomy. Anaximander was noted for constructing a sundial, a map, and a celestial globe. Anaximenes' importance lies in his dawning conception of serial order. Heraclitus' fragments express ideas such as the eternal validity of the Logos and the concept of everything flowing.

The Eleatic school is of unique historical importance, representing the first attempt to establish pure reason as the sole criterion of truth. Parmenides' main position was that being is one and unchanging. Zeno, his eminent disciple, combined cleverness and fortitude. Empedocles postulated four basic physical realities, while Anaxagoras conceived the cosmos as being set in order by a mind. The atomism of Leucippus and Democritus was closer to scientific thinking.

Pythagoras established a school with a focus on higher studies, a disciplined community life, and the admission of women. The Sophists taught the ability to win debates and influence public opinion. Hippocrates' philosophy rested on the propositions that health is natural and disease is governed by natural causes.

This collection is marvelous, and Wheelwright's introductions are very helpful, making it an excellent book for studying these early philosophers.

The grouping/historical period of the Presocratics has continued to hold a great deal of interest for me even several years after first reading about them in the fall of 2003.

There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, they were among the earliest philosophers in history, which gives us a unique glimpse into the very beginnings of philosophical thought. Secondly, many of their ideas were astonishingly ahead of their time and closely align with methodological naturalism, which is the foundation of modern natural science.

They are generally renowned for proposing the material source of the universe. Some believed it was fire, others thought it was water, and still others hypothesized that it was soil, and so on.

Thales and his successor Democritus were the earliest atomists that I know of. It is truly fascinating to think that human beings so long ago, with extremely limited tools for scientific discovery at their disposal, could formulate the hypothesis that everything is composed of atoms.

These are truly captivating people and ideas to study, especially when considered within their specific historical context.

Among them, a few of my personal favorites are Thales, Heraclitus, Empedocles, and Democritus. Their ideas have had a profound impact on the development of philosophy and science, and continue to inspire us today.