Greatest Greek Philosophers

One of the greatest thinkers of the ancient world is thoroughly examined in this resource. Readers will be introduced to the concepts and tenets of Plato's philosophy, his methods of examining and teaching, and his influence on modern philosophy and political thought, including the influence of his philosophies on political systems such as communism. This book also explores Plato's life and upbringing as a member of the aristocracy and his later life as a teacher who had to flee to escape slavery and death for his beliefs.

Euclid, a Greek mathematician, flourished around 300 BCE. It was he who shaped geometry into what it is today. As a result, he became known as the father of geometry. Euclid founded his own school in Alexandria, Egypt, and gained a reputation as an exceptional geometry teacher. The Elements, his thirteen-volume treatise on mathematics and geometry, was considered to be one of the most influential mathematical works in history. Readers consider some of the definitions and postulates from this great work. They also learn about ancient Greek civilization and the renowned Greek mathematicians and philosophers who influenced Euclid's thinking.

Give your readers a compelling biography. Known as the Father of Mathematics, Archimedes was the most important mathematician and inventor in ancient Greece. Many of the inventions he created as solutions to problems presented to him by King Hiero II are still in use today. Accomplished in both theoretical and practical mathematics, Archimedes is best known for mechanical inventions like Archimedes' screw, the Claw of Archimedes, and the heat ray as a weapon, as well as his discoveries using water displacement and buoyancy. His contributions to pure mathematics, such as his approximation of pi, laid the groundwork for modern calculus.

Though known today primarily for the mathematical theorem that bears his name, Pythagoras was a mystically-minded philosopher with a particular interest in music, astronomy, cosmology, numerology, and the soul. This book paints a vivid picture of the world in which Pythagoras lived. Since the philosopher was so widely travelled that includes Greek, Egyptian, and Babylonian civilization in the sixth century BCE. Along with chapters discussing Pythagoras's life and beliefs, as well as the lifestyle he advocated, there is a timeline listing important events from his life.

Aristotle reflected upon everything from the weather, physics, and natural sciences to justice, government, and art. Armed with a critical eye and a great curiosity about life, he had a fundamental influence on the way we perceive and understand the world around us. Although some of his theories turned out to be inaccurate, Aristotle's philosophy continues to inform and inspire present and future generations of minds eager to learn. Readers will find out about his early life, his scholarship under Plato, his tutelage of Alexander the Great, and the opening of the Lyceum, his school in Athens.

In the history of ancient philosophy, few figures loom as large as Socrates, whose relentless process of questioning continues to inform philosophical and ethical inquiry today. During his time, Socrates was a peculiar and sometimes puzzling figure: to some, a barefoot gadfly, to others a brilliant and revolutionary teacher. This absorbing volume chronicles what is known of this unorthodox thinker and his incredible legacy. It also provides a window into both the foundations of Western philosophy and the history of golden age Athens, the fate of which was closely tied to that of Socrates himself.