This book is truly a gem. It is brilliantly lucid, making it extremely readable even for those who may not be well-versed in the subject matter. What's more, considering its relatively short length, it is remarkably comprehensive.

I came across this book in a rather interesting way. I had been thoroughly enjoying Osborne/Rowett's papers on Academia.edu. Her work was so engaging and thought-provoking that I wanted to show my appreciation in a more tangible way. So, I decided to buy her book.

I'm glad I did. The book has not only lived up to my expectations but has exceeded them. It offers a wealth of valuable insights and ideas that have broadened my perspective.

Whether you're a scholar, a student, or simply someone with an interest in the subject, I highly recommend this book. It's a quick read that packs a powerful punch.

I chose this book during my reading of philosophy.

After reading about the philosophy before Socrates from two sources of the history of philosophy (The History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell and A History of Modern Philosophy by Antony Kenny), I referred to this book more for a summary.

What's good about it is that it is concise. What's bad about it is that it has no historical narrative, and the author starts to describe the events of philosophy with a criterion other than the history of philosophy.

The fact that the sentences and expressions quoted from each philosopher are presented in a series of boxes was very good, and considering my purpose of reading it, I can say it was satisfactory.

But it is not at all sufficient on its own, and one cannot obtain complete information from it.

Regarding the layout of the book, I should also say that it was extremely bad!! I don't expect such a thing from Mahi Publishing.

I hope it will be corrected in the next editions.

One can view Presocratic philosophy as a history of thinkers striving to address a few crucial questions, particularly the cosmological one.

Catherine Osborne, however, takes a different approach. In her view, the Presocratics explored various problems without a specific order.

This work serves to introduce the reader to the ideas and doubts of men who lived in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The exposition is lucid, and the reader stands to gain a great deal.

By presenting the Presocratic thinkers in this way, Osborne offers a fresh perspective on their contributions. It allows the reader to see the diversity of their inquiries and the range of issues they grappled with.

Overall, this work provides a valuable introduction to an important period in the history of philosophy. It encourages the reader to engage with the ideas of the Presocratics and to consider their relevance to contemporary thought.

Whether one is a student of philosophy or simply interested in the history of ideas, this work is well worth reading. It offers a stimulating and thought-provoking exploration of the Presocratic philosophers and their contributions to our understanding of the world.

"Presocratic Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction" by Catherine Osborne left me rather unsatisfied for several reasons.

To begin with, the writing style seemed to lack enthusiasm. It failed to bring the complex subject matter to life and make it truly engaging for the reader.

The organization of the content also felt disjointed. This made it quite difficult to follow the natural flow of ideas, as if the various concepts were not properly connected or presented in a logical sequence.

The brevity, which was perhaps intended to be an advantage, actually ended up sacrificing depth. I was left with a sense of longing for a more thorough exploration of the Presocratic philosophy.

Moreover, the book missed a crucial opportunity to connect the Presocratic ideas to their contemporary relevance. It seemed somewhat isolated from the broader context of philosophy, not showing how these ancient ideas still have an impact or can be related to modern philosophical discussions.

Overall, this book falls short of expectations. It offers only a basic and rather shallow introduction to Presocratic philosophy, lacking the depth and engagement that I was hoping for. It could have been a much more valuable and interesting read with some improvements in these areas.

The current state of affairs is not very organised.

It seems that a more systematic and structured approach could have been adopted.

For instance, an historical approach might have been a better alternative than the thematic one that was chosen.

By looking at the events and developments in chronological order, a clearer understanding of the subject matter could have been achieved.

This would have allowed for a more comprehensive analysis and identification of patterns and trends.

In contrast, the thematic approach may have led to a more fragmented and disjointed presentation of the information.

It is important to consider different methods and approaches when dealing with complex topics to ensure that the most effective and accurate representation is achieved.

Perhaps in the future, a more organised and well-thought-out strategy can be implemented to enhance the overall quality and value of the work.

Probably a 3.5.

I know the "Very Short Introduction" series can be wildly hit or miss. However, I actually obtained a significantly greater amount from this particular one than I had anticipated. I was already rather familiar with the work of Heraclitus (that is, the few fragments that remain) owing to his overwhelming influence on many of the philosophers whom I have read extensively. Nevertheless, I did not possess a great deal of knowledge about the other pre-Socratics. This book provided a pleasant summation of the main ideas from that time period. It offered a concise yet comprehensive overview, allowing me to gain a better understanding of the intellectual landscape during that era. The author's clear and accessible writing style made it easy to follow and engage with the material. Overall, it was a worthwhile read that filled in some gaps in my knowledge and provided a new perspective on the pre-Socratic philosophers.

This is an extremely outstanding book!

Firstly, when it comes to this extensive subject matter, it is truly praiseworthy.

Secondly, being able to expound on this topic in a concise manner is astonishing.

And thirdly, the way Catherine Osborne involves us (the readers) is rather extraordinary.

Ms. Osborne has the ability to pose excellent questions, and at times, she is content with some good questions rather than reducing these concepts to incorrect and incomplete assumptions.

She has an engaging and down-to-earth tone that is incredibly refreshing among the scholarly voices of this (A Very Short Introduction) series.

This is simply fabulous!

It offers a unique perspective and valuable insights into the subject, making it a must-read for anyone interested in delving deeper into this area of knowledge.

The author's writing style is accessible and engaging, making it easy for readers to understand and follow along.

Overall, this book is a great addition to the series and a wonderful resource for both students and enthusiasts alike.

Pre-Socratic Philosophy is a delightful and engaging book for getting acquainted with the philosophical thoughts that existed before Socrates and were indeed the intellectual predecessors of him and the subsequent philosophies. Reading this book is extremely beneficial for those who intend to conduct a comprehensive study in the history of philosophy. Awareness of these subtle and not very well-known thoughts of the pre-Socratic thinkers reveals the sources of the more developed philosophies later and helps in a better understanding of those subsequent ideas.

The translation by Mrs. Salakh-Karimi is also lively and sincere, and this, along with the quasi-colloquial and storytelling style of the book, has made it easy to read.

This book offers a unique opportunity to explore the roots of philosophical thought and gain insights into the intellectual heritage that has influenced the development of philosophy over the ages. It is a valuable resource for both students and enthusiasts of philosophy alike.

By delving into the ideas of the pre-Socratic philosophers, readers can gain a deeper appreciation for the evolution of philosophical concepts and the ways in which they have shaped our understanding of the world.

Overall, Pre-Socratic Philosophy is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and development of philosophy.

The term 'Presocratic' appears to be a bit of a misnomer. In fact, 'Preplatonic' would be a more precise description. The reason is that Socrates didn't seem to have a truly original philosophy of his own. Currently, we can only view him through the prism of Plato (and also Xenophon, but he is rather overlooked as he is mainly a historian).

Anyway, it's a bit disheartening that the very first thing said about such profound and vivid thinkers as Thales, Parmenides, and Heraclitus is that they preceded Socrates. They are defined by someone who came right after them.

In this charming introduction, Dr Osborne enlivens the dramatic and poetic philosophy of these thinkers. They wrote at a time when these concepts were not so clearly distinguished. Most of their work is only known through fragments, often when quoted by more prominent figures like Aristotle. However, the little we have is fascinating in its own way, even if it does give their thought a certain lack of coherence.

Once upon a time, there was a man named Thales. He was a scientist of sorts and made a great impact on the people of his era by implementing his novel ideas in real life. This led to some remarkable feats in military success and economic advantage. However, what he became most renowned for was the concept that the world remains in its place because it is floating on water. Along the same lines, he also proposed that all things in the world originate from water in some manner.

No sooner had Thales, who resided in a place called Miletus near the sea, put forth this aqueous hypothesis than others felt compelled to take up the challenge. One said, “not water, but air”; another countered with “not air, but earth”; and a third chimed in with “not any of those, but some other substance that isn't really anything specific.” Everyone desired to explain, in what they believed was the best way, how the world, as we know it today, could have emerged from a single undifferentiated matter. This debate endured for a while, with each contributor adding a plausible theory to account for how the world might have come to look as it does now, assuming their own idea of its origin was correct.
(p.29)

This text is written in a very simple and accessible style, making it suitable for a “very short introduction.” It can be rather dry, but the diverse format (pictures, text boxes, tables, etc.) helps to make it a bit more engaging. Perhaps for entry-level information, Wikipedia is useful for basic reviews as well, but books like this are more reliable for all the obvious reasons. Some of the introductory material seemed a bit self-evident (explanations about what a fragment is, etc.), but as a classicist, things that seem obvious to me may not be so for others. I’m sure the author just wants to ensure that everyone is on the same wavelength. I noticed that there was good examination of our priorities (i.e., debate) where these assumptions might be anachronistic, and yet there is some evidence of the recognition of reasoned argument in the early stages, although Osborne points out that the natural philosophers didn’t do much to defend their own views.

All in all, this is a rather typical addition to the “very short introduction” series. If you wish to learn about a new subject, they will provide you with the basic understanding, but in their strictly factual and objective format, they are unlikely to inspire much passion or enthusiasm in the process.

The Presocratics hold a significant place in the history of philosophy. Their ideas and inquiries laid the foundation for much of Western philosophical thought.

This article offers an engaging and thoughtful introduction to the Presocratics, exploring their diverse views on fundamental questions such as the nature of reality, the origin of the universe, and the nature of knowledge.

In addition to examining the Presocratics themselves, the article also delves into some of the issues in contemporary scholarship in early Greek philosophy. Scholars today continue to debate and reinterpret the works of the Presocratics, seeking to gain a deeper understanding of their significance and influence.

By exploring both the Presocratics and contemporary scholarship, this article provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of this important area of philosophy.

This book failed to provide sufficient information.

Moreover, aside from the last two chapters, it hardly served as a proper introduction to any particular subject.

I did, however, find the chapter on the Sophists somewhat interesting.

It was meant to be just supplementary to the key pre-Socratics, but it still managed to hold my attention to some extent.

Overall, this book can only be described as mediocre.

It lacks the depth and comprehensiveness that one would expect from a good introductory work.

The author could have done a better job of presenting the material in a more engaging and informative way.

Perhaps with some revisions and additions, this book could have been a more valuable resource.

As it stands now, it is not a book that I would highly recommend.