This work offers a comprehensive exploration of the Presocratics.

It not only contains detailed commentary and biographical notes that provide valuable insights into the lives and intellectual contexts of these early philosophers.

But also presents a well-translated collection of the surviving fragments.

These fragments are like precious pearls that allow us to catch a glimpse of the profound thoughts and ideas of the Presocratics.

The detailed commentary helps us to better understand the meaning and significance of each fragment, while the biographical notes add a personal touch and bring the philosophers to life.

Overall, this is an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of philosophy and the roots of Western thought.

It provides a fascinating journey into the minds of the Presocratics and enriches our understanding of their contributions to the development of human knowledge.

I'm by no means an expert on the topic.

However, it's precisely this lack of expertise that made me like this as much as I did.

The presentation was very clear and accessible, which allowed me to easily understand the content.

The commentary played a crucial role in tying the actual fragments and testimonies together.

It provided a context and connection that enhanced my overall understanding.

Without the commentary, the fragments and testimonies might have seemed disjointed and difficult to make sense of.

But with its help, I was able to see the bigger picture and gain a more comprehensive perspective on the topic.

Overall, I found this to be a very engaging and informative piece, despite my lack of in-depth knowledge on the subject.

The philosophers who preceded Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle had diverse and profound thoughts.

Heraclitus posited a split reality, with an eternal "logos" representing unchanging truth, while the material world is in constant flux like a flowing river. He urged people to "wake up" and listen to the eternal truths.

The Eleatic Monist School, led by Parmenides, controversially believed that "all is one" and that change and non-being are illogical. Zeno and Melissus supported this view.

The Milesian School, including Thales, Anaximander, and Anaximenes, attributed natural phenomena to elements rather than gods, marking an early exploration of materialist science.

Xenophanes critiqued the traditional gods, stating there is one supreme, all-knowing, and eternal God.

Pythagoras emphasized the importance of mathematics for understanding the universe and believed in the independence of the soul, which could be purified through ascetic practices.

Anaxagoras claimed that our minds are reflections of a "universal mind" separate from the physical body.

Empedocles proposed that life consists of four elements and two cosmic forces, love and strife, which drive the cyclic stages of the universe.

The Atomists believed the universe is made of eternal, tiny particles, and Democritus advocated for a "contentment of mind" to avoid physical and psychological disruptions.

The Sophists had varying views. Protagoras believed "man is the measure of all things" and denied objective truth, while Hippias believed in objective "unwritten laws of nature." Antiphon declared "self-preservation" as the ultimate natural law, and Thrasymachus believed "justice" favors the stronger party.

These early philosophers laid the foundation for the development of Western philosophy and continue to influence our understanding of the world today.

This is an extremely fascinating and highly useful study.

The author's incisive analysis of each philosopher is closely followed by the philosopher's surviving fragments.

I wholeheartedly agree with some other reviewers who opined that it is much easier to peruse the fragments first and then turn to the in-depth analysis.

If the very essence of philosophy is to stimulate our thinking, then as far as I am concerned, every single page of this work has achieved that goal splendidly.

(Though I recall being told of an Oxford philosophy don who, while traveling on the bus, overheard a woman rehearsing her troubles to a friend, and the friend comforted her with the rather ironic advice - "Be philosophical - don't think about it").

Protagoras of Abdera is renowned as the author of the famous tag "Man is the measure of all things." He taught his students to argue both sides of an issue, and he also taught politics, firmly believing that it should not be the exclusive domain of those born into it.

Prior to reading Waterfield, I had a somewhat hazy understanding of all this and considered it to be rather a good thing.

However, Waterfield astutely points out that Protagoras's teaching of arguing for both sides could potentially devolve into a cynical attempt to bolster weak or morally suspect reasoning.

His teaching was not truly democratic either, given that his prices were exorbitantly high.

He also implied a reliance on "experts," which, considering how often the "experts" are prone to error, is more of a curse than a boon.

And the moral relativism inherent in "man is the measure of all things" essentially means that any impression a person receives is also incontrovertibly true, which is patently absurd and ultimately leads us to Oprah Winfrey.

Protagoras is just one example, but every philosopher discussed by Waterfield has led me to contemplate their legacies in entirely new and different perspectives.

Of course, I am but a dilettante and not a serious thinker.

So, I was also intrigued by what Waterfield has to say on the vexed question of beans and why so many of the pre-Socratics were averse to their consumption.

I had always thought it was because they grow in contorted shapes when deprived of light, which was suggestive to Pythagoras's rather eccentric brain of sexual writhing.

Waterfield posits that the prohibition may have its roots in Favism, a type of allergic reaction to beans that I had never heard of before.

Alternatively, as he also mentions, it might simply be that excessive flatulence distracts one from engaging in deep and profound thoughts.

The First Philosophers (2000) presents the ideas of crucial Greek philosophers before or contemporary to Socrates. This division between pre-Socratic and post-Socratic philosophy has its issues. Socrates and Plato can't be fully understood without their predecessors, as their ideas were a response to developments in natural philosophy.

All human cultures need narratives to explain various aspects. Primitive cultures used myths, while the Greek philosophers started looking for natural explanations. Thales of Miletus is considered the founding father of this tradition. Anaximander had an interesting cosmogony. Heraclitus took the ideas of change and reality to a new level.

Parmenides brought a major pivot with his rationalism, founding the Eleatic school. Zeno and Melissus defended his ideas. Pythagoras, although from a different perspective, also had important contributions. Anaxagoras and Empedocles continued the exploration of a dynamic universe in natural terms.

The Atomists reacted against Parmenidean monism. Diogenes returned to a Milesian-style philosophy. All these thinkers dealt with questions of reality, change, and knowledge, using reason, sense experience, or a combination.

The Sophists, in the second part of the book, were moral relativists who used logical arguments. Protagoras, Gorgias, Prodicus, Hippias, Antiphon, and Trasymachus had different views on morality, law, and nature. Their ideas were a reaction to the attacks on conventional morality in fifth-century Greece.

In conclusion, The First Philosophers is a remarkable collection that shows the roots of Plato's ideas and the development of Greek philosophy. It is a highly readable and critical book that offers valuable insights into the original thinkers and the challenges of relying on secondary sources.

The statement "would be 5 stars if the sophists weren't so unbelievably mind-numbing" presents an interesting perspective. Sophists, in ancient Greece, were known for their persuasive and often controversial arguments. Their methods could sometimes be convoluted and difficult to follow, leading to a sense of confusion or even frustration.

It's understandable that someone might feel this way. After all, if one is looking for clear and straightforward ideas, the sophists might not be the best source. However, it's important to note that the sophists also played an important role in the development of philosophy and rhetoric. Their arguments forced people to think more deeply about complex issues and to question their own assumptions.

In conclusion, while the sophists may have been mind-numbing at times, they also had a significant impact on the intellectual history of Western civilization. We can learn from their methods and arguments, even if we don't always agree with them.

I can truthfully state that my motivation for delving into this was not to achieve a deeper comprehension of presocratic philosophy. Instead, it was to relish the process of extracting now-lost sources from extant works. The same holds true for attempting to reconstruct someone's thoughts or sources based on what they have alluded to in their writings.

Although numerous philosophers mentioned in this book likely did not pen anything themselves, it is fascinating to commence with a later source's understanding and rephrasing of an idea and work in reverse to strive for a better understanding of the original intention.

Was it as pleasurable as some of the Loeb collections (such as fragmentary republican latin)? Without a doubt, not... but I have a greater inclination towards classical history than philosophy. Nevertheless, I would most definitely still recommend this book.

In terms of enjoyment, it's closer to 3 stars.

The fragments we have are rather questionable and perhaps even apocryphal.

Nonetheless, these fragments are well curated, which makes it truly incredible to discover just how modern the ancients were.

One can learn about some of the earliest cosmological and metaphysical theories.

Moreover, you will also come to realize that the Sophists were far more sophisticated in their thought than the Platonic tradition made them out to be.

They weren't all amoral as the Platonic view might suggest.

This exploration of ancient ideas through these fragments offers a unique perspective and a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the intellectual landscape of the past.

It shows that the ancients had complex and often overlooked theories that can still provide valuable insights today.

Despite the uncertainties surrounding the fragments, they offer a fascinating window into the minds of our ancestors and their attempts to understand the world around them.

The Presocratics, especially Pythagoras, were the foundation of Western philosophy. They sought to understand the fundamental nature of the universe through rational thought and speculation. Pythagoras, in particular, is known for his contributions to mathematics and his belief that numbers were the key to understanding reality.

On the other hand, the Sophists have often been associated with cringe. They were a group of itinerant teachers in ancient Greece who charged fees for their instruction. However, their methods and teachings were sometimes criticized for being more concerned with winning arguments and manipulating people rather than seeking truth.

Despite the negative reputation of the Sophists, they also had an important impact on the development of philosophy. Their focus on rhetoric and argumentation forced philosophers to think more carefully about the nature of language and persuasion. In this way, the Sophists can be seen as a necessary step in the evolution of Western philosophy.

This is a great collection that not only provides glosses of their general beliefs but also supplements them with selected testimonies and fragments in their own words.

It offers valuable insights into the philosophical tradition that Plato and Aristotle engage with and how they interpret them.

The inclusion of their own words allows readers to have a more direct understanding of their thoughts and ideas.

By studying this collection, one can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and richness of the philosophical heritage left by these two great thinkers.

It serves as an important resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike who are interested in exploring the philosophical works of Plato and Aristotle.

Overall, this collection is a must-read for anyone looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of ancient Greek philosophy.

This is a truly great collection of the Presocratic writings.

It offers not only the original texts but also excellent introductions to each section.

The editors have done a remarkable job in presenting these ancient works in a way that is accessible and engaging.

The introductions provide valuable context and background information, helping readers to better understand the historical, philosophical, and cultural significance of the Presocratic thinkers.

Whether you are a student of philosophy, a scholar, or simply someone with an interest in ancient thought, this collection is a must-have.

It will expand your knowledge and deepen your appreciation of the rich intellectual heritage of the Presocratic era.

Highly recommended!

The book's chapters are arranged in a particular way.

Waterfield begins by introducing each philosopher, which provides a good foundation for understanding their background and context.

After that, he presents the related writings.

However, there is a drawback. The writings are a bit too fragmented.

They seem to be presented in a disjointed manner, which can make it a bit challenging for the reader to follow the flow of ideas.

A content + commentary format would have been a better choice.

In this format, the content could be presented first, followed by a detailed commentary that explains and interprets the ideas.

This would have made it much less tiring to read and would have enhanced the reader's understanding of the material.

Overall, while the book has its strengths, the fragmented nature of the writings could have been improved with a different format.