Greek Thinkers - A History of Ancient Philosophy

GREEK THINKERS A HISTORY OF ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY by THEODOR GOMPERZ. VOLUME I TRANSLATED BY LAURIE MAGNUS originally published in 1901. TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE: THE present version of the first volume of Griechische Denker has been rendered directly from the German edition of 1896, published by Veit & Company of Leipsic, which was placed in my hands in June, 1899. ^ n the later stages of my work I have incurred a considerable obligation to the author, whose masterly knowledge of English has helped to purge the proof-sheets of my translation from the errors into which I had been betrayed. The confidence with which I now present it to English readers is largely due to the fact that every doubtful point has been thoroughly discussed in proof and revise between Professor Gomperz and myself. In no single instance has he failed to make his meaning clear to me, and I must take the sole responsibility for any errors that may remain. I welcome this opportunity, too, of expressing my cordial thanks to Frau Professor Gomperz, whose interest in the book and complete command of its subject have been of the utmost service to me throughout the course of my labours. It would be a work of supererogation on my part, though it would add considerably to my pleasure, to introduce this book to English scholars ; but I may at least express the hope that I have not been entirely unsuccessful in conveying in the English language something of the brilliance and charm of style which the author’s German readers recognize and admire in his own. In many of the passages quoted by Professor Gomperz from Plato and Thucydides I have availed myself of the renderings by the late Dr. Jowett, now the property of Balliol College, Oxford, and I am glad to acknowledge the benefit which my work has derived from them. The second volume of Greek Thinkers, dealing mainly with Socrates and Plato, will, it is hoped, be published in the course of this year ; and since, to my regret, I am not at leisure to continue the work myself, steps have already been taken to find a competent translator. The third volume of the German edition will include the author’s indexes, but I have thought it advisable to supply the present instalment of the work with a provisional index of subjects and names. I should add that, in translating the notes and additions to this volume, I have, with the author’s sanction, introduced sundry technical changes, chiefly in reference to English books or to foreign works in English editions. In the instance of Zeller’s Philosophie der Griechen, I have made an exception to this practice. Professor Gomperz quotes uniformly from the last German edition of that work, which has been considerably modified and enlarged since the English rendering was effected. L. M. LONDON, Jan. i, 1901.