Publisher Description

Hellenistic Philosophy of Mind is an elegant survey of Stoic and Epicurean ideas about the soul-an introduction to two ancient schools whose belief in the soul's physicality offer compelling parallels to modern approaches in the philosophy of mind. Annas incorporates recent thinking on Hellenistic philosophy of mind so lucidly and authoritatively that specialists and nonspecialists alike will find her book rewarding.

In part, the Hellenistic epoch was a "scientific" period that broke with tradition in ways that have an affinity with the modern shift from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to the present day. Hellenistic philosophy of the soul, Annas argues, is in fact a philosophy of mind, especially in the treatment of such topics as perception, thought, and action.

Flap

"Usually, such a work becomes at some point too scholarly to be read by . . . amateurs. This is not the case here. It's an admirable accomplishment."--David K. Glidden, University of California Riverside

Author Biography

Julia E. Annas is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona. She is the author, with Jonathan Barnes, of The Modes of Scepticism (1985).

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Contents
PART ONE The Background
1. The Medical and Scientific Background
PART TWO The Stoics
2. The Soul and the Mind
3. Perceiving and Thinking
4. Action
5. The Emotions
PART THREE The Epicureans
6. Atomism and Agents
7. Perception and Thought
8. Action and Freedom of Action
9. Emotions and Feelings
Conclusion
Bibliography
General Index
Index Locorum

Review

"In her systematic examination of Stoic and Epicurean theories of mind, Julia Annas seeks to demonstrate the innovative nature of their views. According to Annas' exactingly lucid book, the Stoic and Epicurean accounts are philosophically worthy and, properly construed, the first genuine theories of mind. . . . Annas carefully and sympathetically attends to the arguments that the Stoics and Epicureans construct, while indicating their defects. As a result, we gain a sense of the enormous attraction of their reasoned, philosophical positions. . . . A model of philosophical scholarship about Hellenistic antiquity."--Glenn Lesses, "Canadian Philosophical Review

Long Description

Hellenistic Philosophy of Mind is an elegant survey of Stoic and Epicurean ideas about the soul--an introduction to two ancient schools whose belief in the soul's physicality offer compelling parallels to modern approaches in the philosophy of mind. Annas incorporates recent thinking on Hellenistic philosophy of mind so lucidly and authoritatively that specialists and nonspecialists alike will find her book rewarding. In part, the Hellenistic epoch was a "scientific" period that broke with tradition in ways that have an affinity with the modern shift from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries to the present day. Hellenistic philosophy of the soul, Annas argues, is in fact a philosophy of mind, especially in the treatment of such topics as perception, thought, and action.

Details