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Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Ancient Western philosophy to c 500
Ryan Holiday’s bestselling trilogy—The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key—captivated professional athletes, CEOs, politicians, and entrepreneurs and helped bring Stoicism to millions of readers. Now, in the first book of an exciting new series on the cardinal virtues of ancient philosophy, Holiday explores the most foundational virtue of all: Courage.
Almost every religion, spiritual practice, philosophy and person grapples with fear. The most repeated phrase in the Bible is “Be not afraid.” The ancient Greeks spoke of phobos, panic and terror. It is natural to feel fear, the Stoics believed, but it cannot rule you. Courage, then, is the ability to rise above fear, to do what’s right, to do what’s needed, to do what is true. And so it rests at the heart of the works of Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, and CS Lewis, alongside temperance, justice, and wisdom.
In Courage Is Calling, Ryan Holiday breaks down the elements of fear, an expression of cowardice, the elements of courage, an expression of bravery, and lastly, the elements of heroism, an expression of valor. Through engaging stories about historic and contemporary leaders, including Charles De Gaulle, Florence Nightingale, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday shows you how to conquer fear and practice courage in your daily life.
You’ll also delve deep into the moral dilemmas and courageous acts of lesser-known, but equally as important, figures from ancient and modern history, such as Helvidius Priscus, a Roman Senator who stood his ground against emperor Vespasian, even in the face of death; Frank Serpico, a former New York City Police Department Detective who exposed police corruption; and Frederick Douglass and a slave named Nelly, whose fierce resistance against her captors inspired his own crusade to end slavery.
In a world in which fear runs rampant—when people would rather stand on the sidelines than speak out against injustice, go along with convention than bet on themselves, and turn a blind eye to the ugly realities of modern life—we need courage more than ever. We need the courage of whistleblowers and risk takers. We need the courage of activists and adventurers. We need the courage of writers who speak the truth—and the courage of leaders to listen.
We need you to step into the arena and fight.
An important volume connecting classical studies with feminism,"
Feminism and Ancient Philosophy" provides an even-handed assessment
of the ancient philosophers' discussions of women and explains
which ancient views can be fruitful for feminist theorizing today.
The papers in this anthology range from classical Greek philosophy
through the Hellenistic period, with the predominance of essays
focusing on topics such as the relation of reason and the emotions,
the nature of emotions and desire, and related issues in moral
psychology. The volume contains some new, ground-breaking essays on
Plato, Aristotle, and the Stoics, as well as previously published
pieces by established scholars like Martha Nussbaum and Julia
Annas. It promises to be of interest to an interdisciplinary
audience including those working in classics, ancient philosophy,
and feminist theory.
Timeless wisdom on generosity and gratitude from the great Stoic
philosopher Seneca To give and receive well may be the most human
thing you can do-but it is also the closest you can come to
divinity. So argues the great Roman Stoic thinker Seneca (c. 4
BCE-65 CE) in his longest and most searching moral treatise, "On
Benefits" (De Beneficiis). James Romm's splendid new translation of
essential selections from this work conveys the heart of Seneca's
argument that generosity and gratitude are among the most important
of all virtues. For Seneca, the impulse to give to others lies at
the very foundation of society; without it, we are helpless
creatures, worse than wild beasts. But generosity did not arise
randomly or by chance. Seneca sees it as part of our desire to
emulate the gods, whose creation of the earth and heavens stands as
the greatest gift of all. Seneca's soaring prose captures his
wonder at that gift, and expresses a profound sense of gratitude
that will inspire today's readers. Complete with an enlightening
introduction and the original Latin on facing pages, How to Give is
a timeless guide to the profound significance of true generosity.
What the Roman poet Horace can teach us about how to live a life of
contentment What are the secrets to a contented life? One of Rome's
greatest and most influential poets, Horace (65-8 BCE) has been
cherished by readers for more than two thousand years not only for
his wit, style, and reflections on Roman society, but also for his
wisdom about how to live a good life-above all else, a life of
contentment in a world of materialistic excess and personal
pressures. In How to Be Content, Stephen Harrison, a leading
authority on the poet, provides fresh, contemporary translations of
poems from across Horace's works that continue to offer important
lessons about the good life, friendship, love, and death. Living
during the reign of Rome's first emperor, Horace drew on Greek and
Roman philosophy, especially Stoicism and Epicureanism, to write
poems that reflect on how to live a thoughtful and moderate life
amid mindless overconsumption, how to achieve and maintain true
love and friendship, and how to face disaster and death with
patience and courage. From memorable counsel on the pointlessness
of worrying about the future to valuable advice about living in the
moment, these poems, by the man who famously advised us to carpe
diem, or "harvest the day," continue to provide brilliant
meditations on perennial human problems. Featuring translations of,
and commentary on, complete poems from Horace's Odes, Satires,
Epistles, and Epodes, accompanied by the original Latin, How to Be
Content is both an ideal introduction to Horace and a compelling
book of timeless wisdom.
HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of
best-loved, essential classics. Plato's Republic has influenced
Western philosophers for centuries, with its main focus on what
makes a well-balanced society and individual.
Cicero is one of the most important and influential thinkers within
the history of Western philosophy. For the last thirty years, his
reputation as a philosopher has once again been on the rise after
close to a century of very low esteem. This Companion introduces
readers to 'Cicero the philosopher' and to his philosophical
writings. It provides a handy port-of-call for those interested in
Cicero's original contributions to a wide variety of topics such as
epistemology, the emotions, determinism and responsibility,
cosmopolitanism, republicanism, philosophical translation,
dialogue, aging, friendship, and more. The international,
interdisciplinary team of scholars represented in this volume
highlights the historical significance and contemporary relevance
of Cicero's writings, and suggests pathways for future scholarship
on Cicero's philosophy as we move through the twenty-first century.
How do we find calm in times of stress and uncertainty? How do we
cope with sudden losses or find meaning in a world that can easily
rob us of what we most value? Drawing on the wisdom of Epictetus,
Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and others, Nancy Sherman's Stoic Wisdom
presents a compelling, modern Stoicism that teaches grit,
resilience, and the importance of close relationships in addressing
life's biggest and smallest challenges. A renowned expert in
ancient and modern ethics, Sherman relates how Stoic methods of
examining beliefs and perceptions can help us correct distortions
in what we believe, see, and feel. Her study reveals a profound
insight about the Stoics: They never believed, as Stoic
popularizers often hold, that rugged self-reliance or indifference
to the world around us is at the heart of living well. We are at
home in the world, they insisted, when we are connected to each
other in cooperative efforts. We build resilience and goodness
through our deepest relationships. Bringing ancient ideas to bear
on 21st century concerns - from workers facing stress and burnout
to first responders in a pandemic, from soldiers on the battlefield
to citizens fighting for racial justice - Sherman shows how
Stoicism can help us fulfil the promise of our shared humanity. In
nine lessons that combine ancient pithy quotes and daily exercises
with contemporary ethics and psychology, Stoic Wisdom is a field
manual for the art of living well.
A delightful anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings
celebrating country living-ranging from a philosophy of compost to
hymns to the gods of agriculture Whether you farm or garden, live
in the country or long to move there, or simply enjoy an occasional
rural retreat, you will be delighted by this cornucopia of writings
about living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile
fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote
to the digital age, How to Be a Farmer evokes the beauty and bounty
of nature with a rich mixture of philosophy, practical advice,
history, and humor. Together, these timeless reflections on what
the Greeks called boukolika and the Romans res rusticae provide an
entertaining and enlightening guide to a more meaningful and
sustainable way of life. In fresh translations by classicist and
farmer M. D. Usher, with the original texts on facing pages, Hesiod
praises the dignity of labor; Plato describes the rustic simplicity
of his ideal republic; Varro dedicates a farming manual to his
wife, Fundania ("Mrs. Farmer"); and Vergil idealizes farmers as
residents of the Golden Age. In other selections, Horace extols the
joys of simple living at his cherished country farm; Pliny the
Elder explains why all culture stems from agriculture; Columella
praises donkeys and tells how to choose a ram or a dog; Musonius
Rufus argues that farming is the best livelihood for a philosopher;
and there is much more. Proof that farming is ultimately a state of
mind we should all cultivate, How to Be a Farmer will charm anyone
who loves nature or its fruits.
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