| The Art of Living: The Stoics on the Nature and Function of Philosophy Contributor(s): Sellars, John (Author) |
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ISBN: 1853997242 ISBN-13: 9781853997242 Publisher: Bristol Classical Press OUR PRICE: $39.55 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: June 2009 Annotation: It is a commonplace to say that in antiquity philosophy was conceived as a way of life or an art of living, but precisely what such claims amount to has remained unclear. John Sellars explores this via a detailed account of ancient Stoic ideas about the nature and function of philosophy. He considers the Socratic background to Stoic thinking about philosophy and Sceptical objections raised by Sextus Empiricus, and offers readings of late Stoic texts by Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. Sellars argues that the conception of philosophy as an art of living has persisted since antiquity and remains a living alternative to modern attempts to assimilate philosophy to the natural sciences. This is the first paperback edition, with a new Preface by the author. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Philosophy | History & Surveys - Ancient & Classical - Literary Collections | Ancient, Classical & Medieval - Literary Criticism | Ancient And Classical |
| Dewey: 188 |
| Series: Bristol Classical Paperbacks |
| Physical Information: 0.9" H x 6.1" W x 9.1" (0.80 lbs) 240 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - Ancient (To 499 A.D.) |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: It is a commonplace to say that in antiquity philosophy was conceived as a way of life or an art of living, but precisely what such claims amount to has remained unclear. If ancient philosophers did think that philosophy should transform an individual's way of life, then what conception of philosophy stands behind this claim? John Sellars explores this question via a detailed account of ancient Stoic ideas about the nature and function of philosophy. He considers the Socratic background to Stoic thinking about philosophy and Sceptical objections raised by Sextus Empiricus, and offers readings of late Stoic texts by Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. Sellars argues that the conception of philosophy as an 'art of living', inaugurated by Socrates and developed by the Stoics, has persisted since antiquity and remains a living alternative to modern attempts to assimilate philosophy to the natural sciences. It also enables us to rethink the relationship between an individual's philosophy and their biography. The book appears here in paperback for the first time with a new preface by the author. |