Focusing on the period of philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Plotinus, "Philosophy of the Ancients" is a lucid, up-to-date introduction to the study of the classic Greek and Roman philosphers. This volume offers the reader a broad range of coverage of ancient philosophy, while the major emphasis of each philospher are distilled so as to afford meaning and insight. From the pre-Socratics through Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to the Stoics, Epicurus, Neoplatonism, and finally Plotinus the student will find a presentation of the salient features of these philosophers. Since our philosophical understanding today should be based on an awareness of the antecedents of our philosophical ideas, Friedo Ricken concentrates in his work on the questions, concepts, and claims from the ancient period that are also indispensable for contemporary philosophy.

Focusing on the period of philosophy from the pre-Socratics to Plotinus, "Philosophy of the Ancients" is a lucid, up-to-date introduction to the study of the classic Greek and Roman philosphers. This volume offers the reader a broad range of coverage of ancient philosophy, while the major emphasis of each philospher are distilled so as to afford meaning and insight. From the pre-Socratics through Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle to the Stoics, Epicurus, Neoplatonism, and finally Plotinus the student will find a presentation of the salient features of these philosophers. Since our philosophical understanding today should be based on an awareness of the antecedents of our philosophical ideas, Friedo Ricken concentrates in his work on the questions, concepts, and claims from the ancient period that are also indispensable for contemporary philosophy.

English summary: Active philosophising, that is not limited by current states, but wants to keep the entire reality in its view has to rely on conversation with history. The antique era plays a major role in this, as the Greeks were the first to pose questions that occupy philosophers up to today. They pointed out approaches to resolution, the basic terms are their doing, thus the philosophy of the classical era is appropriate for an introduction to philosophical thinking. The work reaches from Pre-Socratic philosophy (600 B.C.) to the end of Neo-Platonism (600 AD). It emphasises on questions, terms and theses, which remain essential to modern philosophising. German description: Lebendiges Philosophieren, das nicht zeitbedingten Engfuhrungen erliegen, sondern die Fulle der Wirklichkeit im Blick behalten will, ist auf das Gesprach mit der Geschichte angewiesen. Dabei kommt der Antike eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Die Griechen haben als Erste die Fragen gestellt, welche die Philosophie bis heute beschaftigen. Sie haben grundsatzliche Losungsmoglichkeiten aufgezeigt. Die Grundbegriffe der Philosophie sind ihr Werk. Die Philosophie der Antike ist daher wie keine andere als Einfuhrung in das philosophische Denken geeignet.Die Darstellung umfasst den Zeitraum von den Vorsokratikern (6. Jh. v. Chr.) bis zum Ende des Neuplatonismus (6. Jh. n. Chr.). Herausgearbeitet werden besonders Fragestellungen, Begriffe und Thesen, die auch fur heutiges Philosophieren unverzichtbar sind. In der vollig uberarbeiteten Neuauflage wurde ein Kapitel uber Cicero hinzugefugt; die Kapitel uber Platon, Aristoteles und Plotin wurden erweitert. Die ausgewahlten Literaturhinweise informieren uber den neuesten Stand der Forschung.