The Routledge Handbook of Hellenistic Philosophy (Routledge Handbooks in Philosophy)

Hellenistic philosophy concerns the thought of the Epicureans, Stoics, and Skeptics, the most influential philosophical groups in the era between the death of Alexander the Great (323 BCE) and the defeat of the last Greek stronghold in the ancient world (31 BCE). The Routledge Handbook of Hellenistic Philosophy provides accessible yet rigorous introductions to the theories of knowledge, ethics, and physics belonging to each of the three schools, explores the fascinating ways in which interschool rivalries shaped the philosophies of the era, and offers unique insight into the relevance of Hellenistic views to issues today, such as environmental ethics, consumerism, and bioethics. Eleven countries are represented among the Handbook 's 35 authors, whose chapters were written specifically for this volume and are organized thematically into six sections: The people, history, and methods of Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Skepticism. Earlier philosophical influences on Hellenistic thought, such as Aristotle, Socrates, and Presocratics. The soul, perception, and knowledge. God, fate, and the primary principles of nature and the universe. Ethics, political theory, society, and community. Hellenistic philosophy's relevance to contemporary life. Spanning from the ancient past to the present, this Handbook aims to show that Hellenistic philosophy has much to offer all thinking people of the twenty-first century. Hellenistic philosophy concerns the thought of the Epicureans, Stoics, and Skeptics, the most influential philosophical groups in the era between the death of Alexander the Great (323 BCE) and the defeat of the last Greek stronghold in the ancient world (31 BCE). The Routledge Handbook of Hellenistic Philosophy provides accessible yet rigorous introductions to the theories of knowledge, ethics, and physics belonging to each of the three schools, explores the fascinating ways in which interschool rivalries shaped the philosophies of the era, and offers unique insight into the relevance of Hellenistic views to issues today, such as environmental ethics, consumerism, and bioethics. Eleven countries are represented among the Handbook’s 35 authors, whose chapters were written specifically for this volume and are organized thematically into six sections: The people, history, and methods of Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Skepticism. Earlier philosophical influences on Hellenistic thought, such as Aristotle, Socrates, and Presocratics. The soul, perception, and knowledge. God, fate, and the primary principles of nature and the universe. Ethics, political theory, society, and community. Hellenistic philosophy’s relevance to contemporary life. Spanning from the ancient past to the present, this Handbook aims to show that Hellenistic philosophy has much to offer all thinking people of the twenty-first century. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 List of contributors 10 Abbreviations 14 Introduction 16 PART I: Methods and Background 26 1. Epicurean Philosophy and Its Parts 28 2. The Stoics and their Philosophical System 40 3. Argumentative Strategies of Pyrrhonian and Academic Skeptics 53 4. Documenting Hellenistic Philosophy: Cicero as a Source and Philosopher 64 PART II: Early Influences 76 5. Epicureans, Earlier Atomists, and Cyrenaics 78 6. Cynic Influences on Stoic Ethics 91 7. Stoics and Presocratic Materialists 102 8. Aristotelian and Stoic Virtue 114 9. Socratic Ignorance and Ethics in the Stoa 127 10. Academic Skepticism and the Socratic Method 139 PART III: Soul, Perception, and Knowledge 150 11. Stoic Epistemology 152 12. The Stoic Theory of the Soul 163 13. Impressions and Truth in Epicurean Epistemology 175 14. Epicurus On Sense-Experience and the Fear of Death 186 15. Skeptical Defenses Against the Inaction Objection 199 16. Skeptical Responses to Stoics and Epicureans on the Criterion 213 PART IV: First Principles, Nature, and Teleology 226 17. Epicureans on What There Is 228 18. Epicureans on Teleology and Freedom 239 19. Nature, God, and Determinism in Early Stoicism 251 20. Stoics and Epicureans on Language and the World 263 21. Free Will and Fate in Carneades’ Academic Skepticism 277 22. Piety and Theology in the Stoics, Epicureans, and Pyrrhonian Skeptics 286 PART V: Ethics, Politics, and Society 298 23. Tranquility as the Goal in Pyrrhonian Skepticism 300 24. Epicureans on Pleasure, Desire, and Happiness 310 25. Epicureans on Friendship, Politics, and Community 322 26. The Medicine of Salvation: Epicurean Education as Therapy 334 27. Moral Philosophy in the Imperial Roman Stoa 346 28. The Academics and the Stoics on “Trying Your Best” and the Ultimate End of Action 359 PART VI: The Hellenistic Legacy in Contemporary Issues 374 29. Is Skepticism Natural? Ancient and Modern Perspectives 376 30. Stoicism and Contemporary Medical Ethics 387 31. Stoic Therapy for Today’s Troubles 399 32. Stoic Cosmopolitanism and Environmental Ethics 412 33. Feminism and Stoic Sagehood 425 34. Epicurean Advice for the Modern Consumer 437 35. Hellenistic Philosophy and the Origins of Modern Economic Thought 447 Index 458 Introduction; 1 Epicurean Philosophy and Its Parts; 2 The Stoics and their Philosophical System; 3 Argumentative Strategies of Pyrrhonian and Academic Skeptics; 4 Documenting Hellenistic Philosophy; "5 Epicureans,Earlier Atomists,and Cyrenaics"; 6 Cynic Influences on Stoic Ethics; 7 Stoics and Presocratic Materialists; 8 Aristotelian and Stoic Virtue; 9 Socratic Ignorance and Ethics in the Stoa; 10 Academic Skepticism and the Socratic Method; 11 Stoic Epistemology; 12 The Stoic Theory of the Soul; 13 Impressions and Truth in Epicurean Epistemology; 14 Epicurus On Sense-Experience and the Fear of Death; 15 Skeptical Defenses Against the Inaction Objection; 16 Skeptical Responses to Stoics and Epicureans on the Criterion; 17 Epicureans on What There Is; 18 Epicureans on Teleology and Freedom; "19 Nature,God,and Determinism in Early Stoicism"; 20 Stoics and Epicureans on Language and the World; 21 Free Will and Fate in Carneades’ Academic Skepticism; "22 Piety and Theology in the Stoics,Epicureans,and Pyrrhonian Skeptics"; 23 Tranquility as the Goal in Pyrrhonian Skepticism; "24 Epicureans on Pleasure,Desire,and Happiness"; "25 Epicureans on Friendship,Politics,and Community"; 26 The Medicine of Salvation; 27 Moral Philosophy in the Imperial Roman Stoa; 28 The Academics and the Stoics on “Trying Your Best” and the Ultimate End of Action; 29 Is Skepticism Natural?; 30 Stoicism and Contemporary Medical Ethics; 31 Stoic Therapy for Today’s Troubles; 32 Stoic Cosmopolitanism and Environmental Ethics; 33 Feminism and Stoic Sagehood; 34 Epicurean Advice for the Modern Consumer; 35 Hellenistic Philosophy and the Origins of Modern Economic Thought Introduction,1 Epicurean Philosophy and Its Parts,2 The Stoics and their Philosophical System,3 Argumentative Strategies of Pyrrhonian and Academic Skeptics,4 Documenting Hellenistic Philosophy,5 Epicureans, Earlier Atomists, and Cyrenaics,6 Cynic Influences on Stoic Ethics,7 Stoics and Presocratic Materialists,8 Aristotelian and Stoic Virtue,9 Socratic Ignorance and Ethics in the Stoa,10 Academic Skepticism and the Socratic Method,11 Stoic Epistemology,12 The Stoic Theory of the Soul,13 Impressions and Truth in Epicurean Epistemology,14 Epicurus On Sense-Experience and the Fear of Death,15 Skeptical Defenses Against the Inaction Objection,16 Skeptical Responses to Stoics and Epicureans on the Criterion,17 Epicureans on What There Is,18 Epicureans on Teleology and Freedom,19 Nature, God, and Determinism in Early Stoicism,20 Stoics and Epicureans on Language and the World,21 Free Will and Fate in Carneades’ Academic Skepticism,22 Piety and Theology in the Stoics, Epicureans, and Pyrrhonian Skeptics,23 Tranquility as the Goal in Pyrrhonian Skepticism,24 Epicureans on Pleasure, Desire, and Happiness,25 Epicureans on Friendship, Politics, and Community,26 The Medicine of Salvation,27 Moral Philosophy in the Imperial Roman Stoa,28 The Academics and the Stoics on “Trying Your Best” and the Ultimate End of Action,29 Is Skepticism Natural?,30 Stoicism and Contemporary Medical Ethics,31 Stoic Therapy for Today’s Troubles,32 Stoic Cosmopolitanism and Environmental Ethics,33 Feminism and Stoic Sagehood,34 Epicurean Advice for the Modern Consumer,35 Hellenistic Philosophy and the Origins of Modern Economic Thought "Hellenistic philosophy concerns the thought of the Epicureans, Stoics, and Skeptics, the most influential philosophical groups in the era between the death of Alexander the Great (323 BCE) and the defeat of the last Greek stronghold in the ancient world (31 BCE). The Routledge Handbook of Hellenistic Philosophy provides accessible yet rigorous introductions to the theories of knowledge, ethics, and physics belonging to each of the three schools. It explores the fascinating ways in which interschool rivalries shaped the philosophies of the era, and offers unique insight into the relevance of Hellenistic views to issues today, such as environmental ethics, consumerism, and bioethics. Eleven countries are represented among the Handbook's thirty-five authors, whose chapters were written specifically for this volume and are organized thematically into six sections: I. The people, history, and methods of Epicureanism, Stoicism, and Skepticism. II. Earlier philosophical influences on Hellenistic thought, such as Aristotle, Socrates, and Presocratics. III. The soul, perception, and knowledge. IV. God, fate, and the primary principles of nature and the universe. V. Ethics, political theory, society, and community. VI. Hellenistic philosophy's relevance to contemporary life. Spanning from the ancient past to the present, this Handbook aims to show that Hellenistic philosophy has much to offer all thinking people of the twenty-first century."-- Provided by publisher