Roman Philosophy

Epictetus was born a slave, and became one of the most influent Stoic philosophers. Stoicism is the attitude allowing one to free oneself from the unnecessary suffering that arises from anxiety about events that are beyond our control; therefore, it can be of tremendous importance in one's life. According to Epictetus, our own actions and attitudes are the only thing in our control; whatever else happens, we should examine calmly and dispassionately, because no amount of suffering will change the impact of external events.

The influence of Aristotle, the prince of philosophers, on the intellectual history of the West is second to none. In this book, Jonathan Barnes examines Aristotle's scientific researches, his discoveries in logic and his metaphysical theories, his work in psychology and in ethics and politics, and his ideas about art and poetry, placing his teachings in their historical context.

What is love? In poetry, songs, fiction, movies, psychology, and philosophy, love has been described, admired, lamented, and dissected in endless ways. Is love based on physical attraction? Does it bring out our better selves? How does it relate to sex? Is love divine? Plato's Symposium is one of the oldest, most influential, and most profound explorations of such questions—it is even the source of the idea of "Platonic love."

I am tired of relying on pharmaceuticals and chemicals to deal with every day common illness, from a cold to a headache to high blood pressure. Every medication we use, no matter how common or well-researched, comes with intended and unintended effects. Some of these effects, such as the intended effects, are desired, like pain relief when taking pain relief medication. The problem is the unintended effects these medications cause in the body.

En estas meditaciones que se presentan bajo la forma de cartas a su amigo Lucilio, Séneca, uno de los mayores exponentes del estoicismo, nos invita a un viaje de introspección y reflexión. Escritas en un momento de crisis política y personal, las misivas no solo tratan temas filosóficos como el paso del tiempo y la naturaleza del mundo, sino que ofrecen consejos prácticos sobre cómo vivir una vida serena y feliz, enfrentando la adversidad con entereza y sabiduría.

In The Timaeus, Plato offers one of the most influential philosophical visions of the ancient world—a sweeping dialogue that lays out the structure of the cosmos, the nature of the soul, and the divine intelligence behind creation.

La pensée antique est au fondement de l'histoire des idées et de la philosophie occidentale. Fondamentalement pratique et axée sur le quotidien, elle est marquée par le stoïcisme et la recherche de la sagesse sous toutes ses formes. Découvrez-en toute la profondeur en 400 citations soigneusement choisies pour présenter sous forme condensée les enseignements majeurs des figures incontournables de la Grèce antique.

A modern translation of the philosophical classic—A necessary companion for a living a more present, intentional, and virtuous life—one full of gratitude for who we are and who we have yet to become “Epictetus sounds like the Buddha, and Sharon Lebell’s voice makes him sound like the...

El Kybalión es un documento que contiene el conjunto de enseñanzas de la filosofía hermética, también conocidos como los siete principios del hermetismo. Escrito en los albores del siglo XX, su autoría se debe a un grupo anónimo de personas autodenominados Los tres Iniciados, aunque las bases del hermetismo se atribuyen a un alquimista de algunas logias ocultistas llamado “Hermes Trismegisto”, cuya existencia pudo haber transcurrido en Egipto antes de la época de los faraones.

Plato’s dialogues frequently cover several topics and show their connection to each other. The "Phaedrus" is a model of that skill because of its seamless progression from examples of speeches about the nature of love to mythical visions of human nature and destiny to the essence of beauty and, finally, to a penetrating discussion of speaking and writing. It ends with an examination of the love of wisdom as a dialectical activity in the human mind.

In The Republic, Plato tackles the big issues of the state and the individual: how the state should be ruled, and by whom; and the way the individual should lead his life - and why. The lively quality of the dialogue can be clearly appreciated in this new translation by Tom Griffith.

If you want to discover the captivating history of the Middle Ages, then pay attention...One of the least understood periods of European history occurred between the 6th century and the 14th or 15th century (depending on which historian you ask). Commonly called the Middle Ages, this was a time period of extreme change for Europe, beginning with the fall of the Western Roman Empire. To a continent that had seen a drastic shift in the power structure, the world seemed to be particularly harsh. Rome had been a major player across Europe for well over a millennium. Then it was gone.

"Încercat-am sa înteleg de unde vin lacrimile si m-am oprit la sfinti. Sa fie ei responsabili de stralucirea lor amara? Cine ar sti? Se pare însa ca lacrimile sunt urmele lor; dar fara ei nu stiam ca plângem din regretul paradisului. As vrea sa vad o singura lacrima înghitita de pamânt... Toate apuca, pe cai necunoscute noua, în sus. Numai durerea precede lacrimile. Sfintii n-au facut altceva decât sa le reabiliteze." (Emil CIORAN)

Cicero sets out the three major Greek philosophies: Epicureanism, Stoicism and Aristotelianism (or Peripateticism), by recounting his conversations with Lucius Torquatus, Marcus Cato, and Piso.

The original Latin name of this important essay by Seneca, written around 60 CE, was De Beneficiis, which is why it is generally translated as ‘On Benefits'. However, it is more usefully titled ‘On Favours', because this is what it is essentially about: the giving and receiving of favours, with all the implications of such transactions.

In St. Augustine in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of St. Augustine's life and ideas and explains their influence on man's struggle to understand his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from St. Augustine's work, a brief list of suggested readings for those who wish to delve deeper, and chronologies that place St. Augustine within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.

Aristotle wrote on everything from the shape of seashells to sterility, from speculations on the nature of the soul to meteorology, poetry, art, and even the interpretation of dreams. Apart from mathematics, he transformed every field of knowledge that he touched. Above all, Aristotle is credited with the founding of logic. When he first divided human knowledge into separate categories, he enabled our understanding of the world to develop in a systematic fashion.

A partir de uma história repleta de simbologias, Platão nos apresenta conceitos e situações que visam a busca pelo conhecimento em contraste com a ignorância e a manipulação. O enredo integra o livro VII de A República e destaca um diálogo entre Sócrates e Glauco. As personagens imaginam uma situação hipotética em que várias pessoas são mantidas acorrentadas no fundo de uma caverna escura subterrânea. Dessa forma, a “caverna” representa o nosso mundo interior, nossas limitações e a chamada zona de conforto.

The Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus was one of the most influential teachers of his era, imperial Rome, and his message still resonates with startling clarity today. Alongside Stoics like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, he emphasized ethics in action, displayed in all aspects of life. Merely learning philosophical doctrine and listening to lectures, they believed, will not do one any good unless one manages to interiorize the teachings and apply them to daily life.

Plato is perhaps the most significant philosopher who has ever lived, and The Republic, composed in Athens in about 375 BC, is widely regarded as his most famous dialogue. Its discussion of the perfect city and the perfect mind laid the foundations for Western culture and, for over 2,000 years, has been the cornerstone of Western philosophy.