A very impressive work.

As someone who was only vaguely aware of presocratic philosophers, I was initially bombarded with a flurry of Greek names. Many years ago, in a moment of 'I don't know anything about philosophy' panic, I had attempted to learn about presocratic philosophy. So, it was truly refreshing to encounter some of these figures once again.

However, this book largely aims to oppose the rather vague way in which I had been taught about them, especially the overemphasis on their metaphysics (with Zeno and Pythagoras perhaps being exceptions). While the book isn't completely reactionary, there is a definite effort to sift through the limited scraps we have of these philosophers' thoughts in order to piece together what they were actually thinking and discussing.

This approach results in a somewhat disorganized book. Nevertheless, I believe it demonstrates its relevance to the present. The author successfully makes connections between some of these presocratic thinkers and later systemic thinkers, as well as highlighting Nietzsche's strong influences.

Overall, it definitely feels like a solid introduction to these thinkers. Although I do disagree with its brevity, as I would have liked more in-depth exploration.

This is as well-done as I think these "very short introductions" can be. Osborne breaks away from the traditional chronology and standard overviews. Instead, he offers a unique perspective that does justice to all of the major presocratic figures.

The chapters on Parmenides, Empedocles, and Heraclitus stand out as the best. Osborne's writing is engaging and accessible, making complex philosophical ideas easy to understand.

However, all of the chapters are so well written that it's difficult to single out just a few. Each one provides valuable insights into the presocratic philosophers and their ideas.

Overall, this book is a great introduction to the presocratic period for anyone interested in philosophy. It's well-written, engaging, and offers a fresh perspective on a fascinating topic.

I don't know much about philosophy and I have read very few books on it. That's exactly why I chose the concise and useful collection, Pre-Socratic Philosophy. I said to myself that since I have such little knowledge, I should start from the beginning and follow the historical path.

The book is relatively easy to read. Now I don't know if the reason is that the philosophy of that era was not very complicated or it was the author's skill to explain in simple language. In any case, it completely met my expectations of this type of book.

Our evidence and documents from this era are few and almost most of the works have been lost. What remains for us is actually mentioned in the works of philosophers and writers of the next generation. Now, either they criticized it or they quoted it verbatim from their predecessors. But the question that has arisen for me is whether the philosophy that we attribute to these philosophers was actually their own philosophy or whether the writers of the next generation simply expressed their take on the subject. In any case, like any other historical document, we can never be sure.

Another interesting thing that I don't know if I'm thinking correctly or not is that the philosophers before Socrates (except the Sophists) were more scientists, physicists, and mathematicians than philosophers. And they answered the age-old question of what we are and where we are going from a material point of view. It's interesting that their words sometimes make sense and sometimes don't. For example, that pious man who said that all things come into being from water. He doesn't say it out of nowhere. But did he really have knowledge of evolution and development at that time or did he just say something out of the blue? Or maybe he had a reason for the problem, even if his reason is wrong. But can a wrong reason make the problem wrong too?

I don't know and my information is not extensive enough for me to criticize the book. But overall, the book was enjoyable for me, although I didn't like the boxes that were inserted in the middle of the main text and kept interrupting the text.

This book holds the rather unique and somewhat dubious honor.

It presents what can only be described as the most overly complicated and unnecessarily convoluted explanation of Zeno's paradoxes that one could ever imagine.

The author seems to have gone out of their way to make what are already complex philosophical puzzles even more difficult to understand.

Rather than presenting a clear and straightforward analysis, the text is filled with convoluted language, tangential discussions, and a lack of a coherent narrative.

As a result, readers are left scratching their heads, wondering if they are truly understanding the essence of Zeno's paradoxes or if they have become lost in a maze of the author's convoluted prose.

It's a shame, really, because Zeno's paradoxes are fascinating and worthy of a more accessible and illuminating treatment.

Perhaps a different author or a more simplified approach would be able to do justice to these ancient philosophical conundrums.

Catherine Osborne's introduction is masterfully structured,

taking you on an in-depth exploration of Presocratic philosophy.

She delves into the major philosophers of the era,

presenting the reader with an abundance of primary sources to engage with.

Her incisive commentary and thought-provoking questions add depth and nuance to the study.

By examining the ideas and arguments of these early philosophers,

Osborne helps us to understand the roots of Western philosophy and the development of key concepts.

Whether you are a student of philosophy or simply interested in learning more about this fascinating period,

Catherine Osborne's introduction is an essential read.

It provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of Presocratic philosophy,

enabling you to gain a deeper appreciation for the intellectual achievements of these ancient thinkers.

3.75

It is not as well focused as "Ancient Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction". I really wish that rather than discussing philosophers in the way she did, she would have taken the theories and traced them from the very beginning to the end.

She appears to jump around among the theories instead of constructing them systematically.

However, it is still a good read.

The lack of a clear, linear progression in presenting the theories makes it a bit challenging for the reader to fully grasp and follow the development.

But despite this shortcoming, the content itself is interesting and provides valuable insights into the world of ancient philosophy.

Perhaps with a more organized approach to presenting the theories, this could have been an even better and more engaging read.

Nonetheless, it is still worth picking up and giving a try for those interested in ancient philosophy.

If you have a passion for delving into the profound world of Philosophy, this is indeed a rather excellent starting point.

The Presocratics dedicated almost all their efforts to the study of metaphysics. It is truly fascinating to observe how their concepts regarding the physical world exerted an influence on subsequent ideas in the domains of ethics, epistemology, and other aspects of philosophy.

This work is extremely concise, which is precisely the essence of the book. However, it is nearly impossible to effectively convey the ideas of these philosophers with such a limited number of words.

Nonetheless, it is highly recommended to anyone who has a desire to gain knowledge about philosophy. It serves as a valuable introduction that can pique one's interest and provide a foundation for further exploration into the rich and diverse field of philosophy.

Whether you are a novice or someone with a budding curiosity in philosophy, this book offers a glimpse into the early thoughts and ideas that have shaped the discipline as we know it today.

This seemed like a reasonable introduction to the Pre-Socratics and I learned a fair bit.

However, I didn't like the writing style.

It includes a chapter that awkwardly starts with a false narrative. This false narrative seems out of place and makes it difficult for the reader to engage with the content from the very beginning.

Moreover, there is another chapter which awkwardly refers to an imaginary translator hard at work while we're reading. This reference feels forced and detracts from the overall flow and credibility of the text.

Despite the valuable information I gained about the Pre-Socratics, the writing style really detracted from my enjoyment of the book. It made the reading experience less smooth and more frustrating than it should have been.

I hope that future editions of this work will address these issues with the writing style to make it more accessible and engaging for readers.

Presocratic Philosophy: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) by Catherine Osborne (2004)

This book offers a concise and accessible exploration of Presocratic philosophy. Osborne delves into the ideas and theories of the early Greek philosophers who preceded Socrates.

The Presocratics were concerned with fundamental questions about the nature of the universe, reality, and the human condition. They sought to understand the world through rational inquiry and speculation.

Osborne examines the diverse range of views among the Presocratics, including the materialist theories of Thales and Democritus, the Pythagorean emphasis on numbers and harmony, and the Heraclitean concept of change.

By presenting these ideas in a clear and engaging manner, Osborne makes Presocratic philosophy accessible to a wide audience. Whether you are a student of philosophy or simply interested in the history of ideas, this book provides a valuable introduction to the fascinating world of the Presocratics.