Robin Waterfield's "The First Philosophers: The PreSocratics and the Sophists" takes readers on an enlightening journey back to the roots of Western philosophy. Waterfield expertly delves into the intellectual landscape of ancient Greece, presenting a comprehensive overview of the PreSocratic philosophers and the Sophists.

One remarkable aspect of this book is Waterfield's skill in making complex philosophical concepts understandable to readers of all levels. Whether you're a passionate philosophy enthusiast or new to the subject, you'll find this book engaging and informative. The author's clear and concise writing style, combined with his profound knowledge of the topic, makes it a captivating read.

Furthermore, Waterfield does an outstanding job of contextualizing the ideas of the PreSocratics and the Sophists within the historical and cultural context of ancient Greece. By doing so, he not only helps readers grasp the philosophical theories of these thinkers but also sheds light on the broader social forces that influenced their ideas.

Another strength of the book lies in its organization. Waterfield presents the material in a logical and coherent manner, enabling readers to easily follow the evolution of philosophical thought from the early philosophers to the late Sophists. The book also includes useful summaries and analyses of key philosophical texts, allowing readers to deepen their understanding of the material.

In conclusion, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of philosophy or the intellectual underpinnings of Western civilization. Robin Waterfield's insightful exploration and translation offer a rich and comprehensive perspective on the origins of Western philosophical thought. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking to expand their intellectual horizons and gain a deeper appreciation for the philosophical traditions that have shaped our world.

A Fascinating Book

This book is truly captivating. Reading the thoughts of people from 2500 years ago is an exciting experience, and the similarities in their thinking with ours are really interesting. I believe this book has improved over time as the sophists are a more interesting group than the presocratics, although the latter are not dull at all.

Waterfield provides an excellent introduction to the book. His handling of the concepts of mythos and logos, the rational and the irrational, in introducing the presocratics is masterful.

The Milesians (Thales, Anaximenes, and Anaximander) were not overly interesting due to the limited material available on them. However, the chapter on Xenophanes was engaging. His poetic aphorisms were delightful but a bit shallow in philosophical thought. Heraclitus was confusing yet someone I'd like to explore further. His development of arkhē was crucial to presocratic philosophy and influenced later philosophers until Socrates shifted the focus from arkhē to arete.

The Eleatic monists (Parmenides, Zeno, Melissus) were the highlight of the presocratics. Although I still hold the opinion that they were too concerned with the material implications of nondualism and did not question the nature of reality as deeply as the Upanishads. Parmenides' acceptance of what-is was confusing as there was no explanation. Zeno and Melissus further developed Parmenides' thought.

The praxis of Pythagoreanism was fascinating due to its parallels with Vedanta, but I was put off by their mathematical determinism. Aristotle's theory of potentiality was inspired by Anaxagoras, but I was not overly impressed by his thought. Empedocles had some antinatalist implications in his thought and also wrote beautiful poetry.

Democritus questioned our assumptions about knowledge and provided aphorisms on ethics similar to those of Epicurus. The sophists, especially Protagoras, were very interesting. His agnosticism and relativism were appealing, and he reminded me of the syadvada theory in Jainism. The nomos-physis debate among the sophists was also significant and had parallels with later debates in moral philosophy.

Overall, this book has provided me with a better understanding of the presocratics and sophists and their contributions to philosophy. It has also given me some context to understand why Plato is remembered as the first philosopher while others are less known or face criticism.

This book offers a great introduction to the most ancient philosophers. It delves deep into their thoughts and ideas, presenting a comprehensive overview of their contributions to the field of philosophy.

One of the remarkable aspects of this work is the way it achieves a nice balance between fragments from the original works and critical commentary. The inclusion of original fragments allows readers to directly engage with the words and concepts of the ancient philosophers, providing a sense of authenticity and immediacy.

At the same time, the critical commentary offers valuable insights and interpretations, helping readers to better understand the significance and implications of the philosophers' ideas. This combination of original material and analysis makes the book accessible to both students and general readers interested in exploring the rich history of philosophy.

Overall, this is an excellent resource for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of the most ancient philosophers and their enduring influence on Western thought.

I still don't believe Socrates existed.

Socrates is a highly regarded figure in ancient Greek philosophy, yet there are several reasons for my skepticism. For one thing, the primary sources of information about him come from the writings of his students, such as Plato and Xenophon. It is possible that they may have exaggerated or distorted his ideas and teachings to suit their own purposes.

Additionally, there is a lack of direct archaeological evidence to prove his existence. While there are many ancient texts that mention Socrates, there are no physical remains or artifacts that can be directly attributed to him.

Of course, this does not mean that Socrates did not exist. It is possible that the evidence has been lost or destroyed over time. However, until more conclusive evidence is found, I will continue to have my doubts.

SAVE YOUR TIME AND MIND

Unless you have an intense desire to read the Fragments (Toronto Editions) of all these individuals, it is advisable to simply read this. By choosing this option, you can avoid spending countless hours poring over numerous texts. Instead, you can obtain the essential information and insights in a more concise and efficient manner. This not only saves your precious time but also spares your mind from the potential exhaustion and confusion that may arise from reading a large number of fragmented works. So, make a wise decision and let this be your guide to understanding the key points without the need to go through each and every individual Fragment (Toronto Editions).

A treasure trove of information awaits within these pages. I never fully realised just how much we depend on secondhand information when it comes to early philosophy.

Each individual philosopher is presented with a great introduction and detailed commentary. It took me a significant amount of time to work my way through it all, but I found the process truly captivating as I delved into the world of the presocratics.

Their ideas and theories were like precious gems, shining a light on the beginnings of philosophical thought.

Now, having gained this newfound knowledge, I feel more than ready to take on the works of Socrates and Plato.

I look forward to exploring their profound insights and further expanding my understanding of philosophy.

This journey of discovery has been both enlightening and enjoyable, and I can't wait to see where it leads next.

Robin Waterfield is truly one of the most outstanding history writers I have ever come across.

His prose is not only engaging but also has a unique charm that makes you feel as if you are immersed in the historical events.

He has a remarkable ability to present history in a narrative form that is both clear and easy to follow.

This book on Pre-Socratic philosophers is a prime example of his talent.

It comprehensively covers the lives and ideas of these great thinkers, yet it does so in a seemingly effortless manner.

The inclusion of the Sophists, such as Protagoras and Gorgias, adds another layer of depth to the book.

Even though I have been familiar with these philosophers for over 25 years, Waterfield manages to bring new life and fresh insights to them.

For philosophy students or anyone with an interest in early Greek philosophy, this book is highly recommended.

I firmly believe that you will not find a better work on this subject in the market.

It is a must-read for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the history and development of early Greek philosophy.

This book offers a solid introduction to ancient Greek thought.

However, its only drawback is that the introductions are presented before the fragments and frequently contain the editor's personal judgments.

Nonetheless, the book surpasses its objective of acquainting the reader with the trends in ancient Greek thought that have had a significant impact on the ongoing debates we are still engaged in.

It is highly recommended for those seeking a good introduction.

Perhaps, reading the introductions after the fragments could be a wise choice as it allows the reader to form their own initial impressions before being influenced by the editor's views.

This way, they can have a more independent and in-depth exploration of the ancient Greek thought presented in the book.

Overall, despite its minor flaw, this book remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in ancient Greek thought.

Read about half:

No disrespect to Waterfield, but after a while, too many of these guys seem to be engaged in a rather esoteric and perhaps overly theoretical pursuit. It's as if they are like the Ancient Greek version of angels dancing on the head of a pin. They delve deep into complex ideas and discussions that might seem a bit removed from the practical or the tangible.

One wonders if all this intense intellectual exploration is truly leading to something meaningful or if it's just a form of mental gymnastics for the sake of it. While there is value in intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge, sometimes it feels like these individuals are getting lost in the minutiae and losing sight of the bigger picture.

Perhaps a more balanced approach is needed, one that combines the depth of analysis with a practical application or a connection to the real world. This way, their efforts could have a more significant and lasting impact.

Good, those Sophists really were something.

They were a group of thinkers in ancient Greece who were known for their skills in argumentation and persuasion. The Sophists believed that truth was relative and that it could be manipulated through the use of language and rhetoric.

They were highly regarded for their ability to argue both sides of a case and to make the weaker argument seem stronger. This led to some criticism, as some people believed that the Sophists were more interested in winning arguments than in finding the truth.

However, the Sophists also made important contributions to the development of philosophy and rhetoric. Their ideas about language and persuasion influenced later thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle.

Overall, the Sophists were a complex and controversial group of thinkers whose ideas continue to be studied and debated today.

This is an extremely great book.

It has captured my attention from the very beginning and held it firmly throughout.

The story is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the writing style is captivating.

I found myself completely immersed in the world that the author has created.

So much so that I know for sure that I will re-read this book at least once.

There are many details and subtleties that I'm sure I missed on the first read, and I'm looking forward to uncovering them on my second pass.

This book is truly a gem and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

I can't wait to pick it up again and experience it all over again.

From this remarkable book, I have discovered the astonishing wonders of reason and thought. Philosophy, it is truly a powerful tool that breathes life and motion into our existence, filling our hearts with love and belief, in the divine order of love and belief.

The thoughts presented within are truly profound. For instance, creation occurs not due to the qualitative change of any element, but rather as a result of the separation of opposites through eternal motion.

Also, the idea that one outstanding man can be worth ten thousand is quite thought-provoking.

Marriage, according to their beliefs, was associated with the number 5, as it represents the union of male and female. They identified reason and substance with 1, due to its unchanging and ruling nature.

Philolaus proposed that after mathematical magnitude becomes three-dimensional, various qualities such as colour, ensoulment, intelligence, and more are attributed to different numbers.

The creation myth of Ancient Egypt adds another layer of intrigue. It all began with the stirrings of the High God in the primeval waters. The Ogdoad, a group of eight divine beings, were thought to have played a role in creation and continued to influence the natural world.

The pantheon at Hermopolis, known as the Ogdoad, represented primordial chaotic forces. Man, in Egyptian mythology, was believed to be made of tears.

Although there is still much to learn and understand, the knowledge of history remains somewhat clouded. We journey through history and literature, much like we would through space and time, seeking to uncover its mysteries.