Greek Philosophy - Thales to Plato

GREEK PHILOSOPHY THALES TO PLATO by JOHN BURNET. PREFACE: THE preparation of this volume was undertaken some years ago, but was interrupted by my work on the Lexicon Platonicum^ which has proved a more formidable task than was at first anticipated. I have to thank the editor of this series and the publishers for their generous indulgence in the circumstances. It is unfortunate in some respects that I have been obliged to deal with certain parts of the subject in a form which does not admit of detailed argument and still less of controversy. The second edition of my Early Greek Philosophy ( referred to as E. Gr. P/ z. 2 ) makes this in large measure unnecessary in Book I., but there are certain parts of Book III. where I have had to state my conclusions baldly in the hope that I may have a later opportunity of discussing their grounds. My chief aim for the present has been to assist students who wish to acquire a firsthand knowledge of what Plato actually says in the dialogues of his maturity. So long as they are content to know some thing of the Republic and the earlier dialogues, Platonism must be a sealed book to them. I have not thought it well to present Greek names in a Latin dress. I see no advantage, and many disadvantages, in writing Herakleitos as Heraclitus. It often leads to his being called out of his name, as the Emperor Herakleios usually is when disguised as Heraclius. On the other hand, the Latin titles of Plato’s dialogues are English words. Theaitetos of Athens is best left with the beautiful name chosen for him by his father Euphronios, but the Th& aetetus is as much English as TJmsakniam, We shall never, it seems, reach agreement on this matter ; I only wish to explain my own practice. I have to thank my friend and former colleague, Sir Henry Jones, for many valuable suggestions and, above all, for his constant encouragement. Mr. Hetherington of Glasgow University was good enough to verify most of my references, and the proofs have been carefully read by Mr. W. L. Lorimer, Lecturer in Greek at the Univer sity of St. Andrews. For the imperfections which remain I am solely responsible. J. B. Contents include: INTRODUCTION--------i BOOK I. THE WORLD CHAPTER I THE IONIANS 17 Miletos 17 The Breakdown of Ionian Civilisation 28 Religion - - - - - - - - 3 1 Enlightenment -------32 CHAPTER II PYTHAGORAS --------37 The Problem - 37 Life and Doctrine ------38 Music ..------45 Medicine --------49 Numbers -----.-. 51 CHAPTER III HERAKLEITOS AND PARMENIDES 57 Herakleitos -------’ 57 Parmenides --------63 viii PACK THE PLURALISTS - ..... - 69 Empedokles--------yj Anaxagoras -------. 76 CHAPTER V ELEATICS AND PYTHAGOREANS ... 82 Zeno - ........ 82 Melissos ----.... 85 The Later Pythagoreans - - - - * 87 CHAPTER VI LEUJCIPPOS - ...... - 94 BOOK II. KNOWLEDGE AND CONDUCT CHAPTER VII THE SOPHISTS ....... - 105 Law and Nature - - - - - - - 105 The Sophists ....... 107 Protagoras - - - - - - - - no Hippias and Prodikos - - - - - - 118 Gorgias ........ n 9 Eclectics and Reactionaries - - - - - 122 CHAPTER VIII THE LIFE OF SOKRATES ----.. 126 The Problem - - - - - - - 126 The Platonic Sokrates - - - - - - 128 Aristophanes and Xenophon - - - - - 144 CONTENTS ix CHAPTER IX PA. GB THE PHILOSOPHY OF SOKRATES - - - - 151 The Associates of Sokrates - - - - - 151 The Forms 154 Goodness - - - - - - - 170 CHAPTER X THE TRIAL AND DEATH OF SOKRATES 180 The Condemnation - - - - - - 180 The Alleged Offence 182 The Real Offence 185 The Pretext 189 The Death of Sokrates * 9 X CHAPTER XI DEMOKRITOS - - J 93 Theory of Knowledge 19 Theory of Conduct 199 BOOK III. PLATO CHAPTER XII PLATO AND THE ACADEMY .... - 205 Plato’s Early Life 205 Foundation of the Academy - - 213 Plato and Isokrates - - - - - - 215 The Methods of the Academy - - - 219 The Programme of Studies -----223 Eukleides and Plato ------230