The Sense of the Past : Essays in the History of Philosophy

Essays in the History of Philosophy by one of the brilliant philosophers of our time;Preface – Patricia WilliamsIntroduction – Myles Burnyeat Greek: GeneralOne – The Legacy of Greek PhilosophyTwo – The Women of Trachis: Fictions, Pessimism, EthicsThree – Understanding Homer: Literature, History and Ideal Anthropology Socrates and PlatoFour – Pagan Justice and Christian LoveFive – Introduction to Plato’s TheaetetusSix – Plato against the ImmoralistSeven – The Analogy of City and Soul in Plato’s RepublicEight – Plato’s Construction of Intrinsic GoonessNine – Cratylus’ Theory of Names and Its RefutationTen – Plato: The Invention of Philosophy AristotleEleven – Acting as the Virtuous Person ActsTwelve – Aristotle on the Good: A Formal SketchThirteen – Justice as a VirtueFourteen – Hylomorphism DescartesFifteen – Descartes’ Use of ScepticismSixteen – Introductory Essay on Descarte’ MeditationsSeventeen – Descartes and the Historiography of Philosophy HumeEighteen – Hume on Religion SidgwickNineteen – The Point of View of the Universe: Sidgwick and the Ambitions of Ethics NietzscheTwenty – Nietzsche’s Minimalist Moral PsychologyTwenty-One – Introduction to The Gay ScienceTwenty-Two – “There are many kinds of eyes”Twenty-Three – Unbearable Suffering R. G. CollingwoodTwenty-Four – An Essay on CollingwoodWittgensteinTwenty-Five – Wittgenstein and Idealism Bernard Williams: Complete Philosophical Publications Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 Greek: General......Page 24 ONE: The Legacy of Greek Philosophy......Page 26 TWO: The Women of Trachis: Fictions, Pessimism, Ethics......Page 72 THREE: Understanding Homer: Literature, History and Ideal Anthropology......Page 83 Socrates and Plato......Page 92 FOUR: Pagan Justice and Christian Love......Page 94 FIVE: Introduction to Plato's Theaetetus......Page 106 SIX: Plato against the Immoralist......Page 120 SEVEN: The Analogy of City and Soul in Plato's Republic......Page 131 EIGHT: Plato's Construction of Intrinsic Goodness......Page 141 NINE: Cratylus' Theory of Names and Its Refutation......Page 161 TEN: Plato: The Invention of Philosophy......Page 171 Aristotle......Page 210 ELEVEN: Acting as the Virtuous Person Acts......Page 212 TWELVE: Aristotle on the Good: A Formal Sketch......Page 221 THIRTEEN: Justice as a Virtue......Page 230 FOURTEEN: Hylomorphism......Page 241 Descartes......Page 252 FIFTEEN: Descartes' Use of Scepticism......Page 254 SIXTEEN: Introductory Essay on Descartes' Meditations......Page 269 SEVENTEEN: Descartes and the Historiography of Philosophy......Page 280 Hume......Page 288 EIGHTEEN: Hume on Religion......Page 290 Sidgwick......Page 298 NINETEEN: The Point of View of the Universe: Sidgwick and the Ambitions of Ethics......Page 300 Nietzsche......Page 320 TWENTY: Nietzsche's Minimalist Moral Psychology......Page 322 TWENTY-ONE: Introduction to The Gay Science......Page 334 TWENTY-TWO: "There are many kinds of eyes"......Page 348 TWENTY-THREE: Unbearable Suffering......Page 354 R. G. Collingwood......Page 362 TWENTY-FOUR: An Essay on Collingwood......Page 364 Wittgenstein......Page 382 TWENTY-FIVE: Wittgenstein and Idealism......Page 384 Bernard Williams: Complete Philosophical Publications......Page 404 Annotation Before his death in 2003, Bernard Williams planned to publish a collection of historical essays, focusing primarily on the ancient world. This posthumous volume brings together a much wider selection, written over some forty years. His legacy lives on in this masterful work, the first collection ever published of Williams's essays on the history of philosophy. The subjects range from the sixth century B.C. to the twentieth A.D., from Homer to Wittgenstein by way of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Sidgwick, Collingwood, and Nietzsche. Often one would be hard put to say which part is history, which philosophy. Both are involved throughout, because this is the history of philosophy written philosophically. Historical exposition goes hand in hand with philosophical scrutiny. Insights into the past counteract blind acceptance of present assumptions. In his touching and illuminating introduction, Myles Burnyeat writes of these essays: "They show a depth of commitment to the history of philosophy seldom to be found nowadays in a thinker so prominent on the contemporary philosophical scene." The result celebrates the interest and importance to philosophy today of its near and distant past. The Sense of the Pastis one of three collections of essays by Bernard Williams published by Princeton University Press since his death. In the Beginning Was the Deed: Realism and Moralism in Political Argument, selected, edited, and with an introduction by Geoffrey Hawthorn, andPhilosophy as a Humanistic Discipline, selected, edited, and with an introduction by A.W. Moore, make up the trio Before his death in 2003, Bernard Williams planned to publish a collection of historical essays, focusing primarily on the ancient world. This posthumous volume brings together a much wider selection, written over some forty years. His legacy lives on in this masterful work, the first collection ever published of Williams's essays on the history of philosophy. The subjects range from the sixth century B.C. to the twentieth A.D., from Homer to Wittgenstein by way of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Sidgwick, Collingwood, and Nietzsche. Often one would be hard put to say which part is history, which philosophy. Both are involved throughout, because this is the history of philosophy written philosophically. Historical exposition goes hand in hand with philosophical scrutiny. Insights into the past counteract blind acceptance of present assumptions. In his touching and illuminating introduction, Myles Burnyeat writes of these essays: "They show a depth of commitment to the history of philosophy seldom to be found nowadays in a thinker so prominent on the contemporary philosophical scene." The result celebrates the interest and importance to philosophy today of its near and distant past. "The Sense of the Past" is one of three collections of essays by Bernard Williams published by Princeton University Press since his death. "In the Beginning Was the Deed: Realism and Moralism in Political Argument," selected, edited, and with an introduction by Geoffrey Hawthorn, and "Philosophy as a Humanistic Discipline," selected, edited, and with an introduction by A. W. Moore, make up the trio. "Before his death in 2003, Bernard Williams planned to publish a collection of historical essays, focusing primarily on the ancient world. This posthumous volume brings together a much wider selection, written over some forty years. His legacy lives on in this masterful work, the first collection ever published of Williams's essays on the history of philosophy. The subjects range from the sixth century B.C. to the twentieth A.D., from Homer to Wittgenstein by way of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hume, Sidgwick, Collingwood, and Nietzsche. Often one would be hard put to say which part is history, which philosophy. Both are involved throughout, because this is the history of philosophy written philosophically. Historical exposition goes hand in hand with philosophical scrutiny. Insights into the past counteract blind acceptance of present assumptions. In his touching and illuminating introduction, Myles Burnyeat writes of these essays: "They show a depth of commitment to the history of philosophy seldom to be found nowadays in a thinker so prominent on the contemporary philosophical scene."--Book cover

it Is Difficult To Imagine A Better Collection. The Essays On Greek Thought And Literature, Plato, And Aristotle Would Make Up A Distinguished Volume In Their Own Right And, Together With Williams's Essays On Descartes, Hume, Nietzsche, And Collingwood (several Of Them Unpublished Until Now), They Constitute A Work I Can Only Describe As An Idiosyncratic Landmark. What Could Be More Valuable Than To See How, In The Hands Of One Of The Most Important Philosophers In Recent Years, All These Philosophers And The Questions They Ask Can Illuminate One Another?—alexander Nehamas, Princeton University

philosophical Activity, When It Comes Alive, Is Precious. This Brilliant And Captivating Book Is Philosophy Alive In Its History.—jonathan Lear, The University Of Chicago

nicholas White - Ethics

the Sheer Variety Of Williams's Historical Interests And The Spontaneity With Which He Displays Them Give This Collection A Sense Of Vigor And Dialectical Fun That Are Characteristic Of Its Author.

This collection of historical essays range from the 6th century BC to the 20th century AD, from Homer to Collingwood by way of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, Descartes, Hume and Nietzsche. This is the history of philosophy written philosophically. Insights into the past counteract blind acceptance of present assumptions Bernard Williams ; Edited And With An Introduction By Myles Burnyeat. Bernard Williams, Complete Philosophical Publications: P. [381]-393. Includes Bibliographical References.