Афоризмы и цитаты
Различные книги в жанре Афоризмы и цитатыPhaedrus
Plato’s “Phaedrus” is a dialogue between Phaedrus and the great Greek philosopher Socrates. Phaedrus has been spending the morning with Lysias, the celebrated rhetorician, and is going to refresh himself by taking a walk outside the wall, when he is met by Socrates, who professes that he will not leave him until he has delivered up the speech with which Lysias has regaled him, and which he is carrying about in his mind, or more probably in a book hidden under his cloak, and is intending to study as he walks. The imputation is not denied, and the two agree to direct their steps out of the public way along the stream of the Ilissus towards a plane-tree which is seen in the distance. There, lying down amidst pleasant sounds and scents, they will read the speech of Lysias. A classic exposition on the topic of love which serves to construct a discussion on the proper use of rhetoric, Plato’s “Phaedrus” is one of the ancient philosopher’s important Socratic dialogues. This edition is translated with an introduction by Benjamin Jowett and includes a biographical afterword.
Meno
Plato’s “Meno” is a Socratic dialogue between the two main speakers, Socrates and Meno, and explores the definition of virtue and whether it is something that can be taught. Meno is an attractive and well-to-do young man visiting Athens and is a student of the sophist Gorgias, who has greatly influenced Meno’s ideas on virtue and knowledge. The dialogue begins abruptly with a question posed by Meno, who asks Socrates whether virtue can be taught. Socrates replies that he does not as yet know what virtue is, and has never known anyone who did. A fascinating and thought-provoking dialogue ensues between Meno and Socrates exploring what exactly virtue is and whether the definition is the same for all people. Meno contends that virtue is dependent on one’s station in life and there is one kind of virtue for men and one for women, one for children, and one for adults. Through detailed and exhaustive questions and answers, Socrates reveals his belief that virtue is the same for all people, whether old or young, man or woman. Socrates then begins to question one of Meno’s slaves to prove his proposition that much knowledge is innate and merely needs to be revealed with the proper questioning, or the Socratic method, rather than taught. This timeless and engaging classic is a must read for all students of philosophy. This edition is translated with an introduction by Benjamin Jowett and includes a biographical afterword.
Gorgias
One of the middle or transitional dialogues of the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, “Gorgias” depicts a dinner gathering attended by Socrates and a group of sophists. Gorgias, a foreigner, has been drawn to Athens by its cultural and intellectual sophistication. In this dialogue Plato contrasts Gorgias, the rhetorician, with Socrates, the philosopher, whose differing specialties are persuasion and refutation, respectively. As Plato delves into arguments both incredible and forthright, he begins to contrast two differing ways of life, as exemplified by the rhetorican and the philosopher. The rhetorican in making use of language to persuade his audience gives no guarantee of convincing others towards a moral choice. In order that rhetoric might be used for good it must be guided by a moral philosophy arrived at through the Socratic method. Ultimately, Plato through Socrates, rejects the use of rhetoric for purposes either immoral or in advancing one’s one self-interest in favor of an authentic morality arrived at through philosophical inquiry. This challenging dialogue exemplifies Plato’s brilliant examination of one of the more important matters of philosophy, human morality. This edition includes a biographical afterword and follows the translation of Benjamin Jowett with an introduction by Friedrich Schleiermacher.
Praise of Folly
Written in Latin in 1509 and published in 1511, “Praise of Folly” by Dutch humanist and scholar Desiderius Erasmus is considered one of the most important works of literature in Western Civilization. The essay is a classic satirical work in the style of Lucian, the ancient Greek satirist, in which the Goddess of Folly extols the virtues of frivolousness and indulgence of one’s passions, then moves to a darker praise of delusion and madness, and finally turns to a satirical examination of Christian superstition and the corruption of the clergy. In a humorous way, “Praise of Folly” reveals the greed and abuses of power of the Roman Catholic Church at the time and is seen as a catalyst for the Protestant Reformation. Wildly popular immediately after its publication, it was translated into numerous languages during Erasmus’s own lifetime. Hugely influential, “Praise of Folly” is regarded as one of the most important literary achievements of the Renaissance and marked the beginning of the modern, enlightened age of science and reason over superstition and ignorance. This masterpiece of humor, irony, and wit is a must-read for all students of Western literature and history.
A Treatise of Human Nature
First published in 1739 to an unenthusiastic British public, Hume’s “A Treatise of Human Nature” has since been referred to as one of the most significant books in the history of philosophy. Hume, a Scottish philosopher, claimed that he was attempting to discuss moral issues with a methodical reasoning, and proceeded to do so in this foundational text. Divided into three large sections, Hume begins his work with a discussion of human understanding, from the origin of our ideas to how we divide them with space and time, with some interesting observations on skepticism. In the second section, Hume speaks of passions, encompassing a range of human emotions and introducing the effect of free will upon them. Finally, the third section covers a variety of moral ideas, including virtues and justice, promises and obligations, and the effect of politics on human morality. Through this treatise, Hume exhibits a remarkable and creative mind, disciplined and enhanced by a systematic method of reasoning, that has produced a text on moral philosophy that continues to stand the test of time over two hundred years later. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
First published in 1689, “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” is British philosopher John Locke’s important and influential exposition on the foundation of human knowledge and understanding. Arranged into four books, the first book begins by rejecting the notion of innate ideas proposed by Descartes and proposes instead that humans are born as blank slates. Book two argues that all knowledge is derived from experience and reflection. Locke also makes the argument for the existence of an intelligent creator or God. Book three addresses language and the unique ability that humans have to assign sounds to meanings and objects and then arrange those words into a language. Locke criticizes the careless use of language by some philosophers and how it can lead to confusion and misunderstanding. Book four is a detailed examination of human knowledge, intuition, mathematics, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, faith, and opinion. Locke’s ideas were the basis for the philosophy of Empiricism, influenced the direction of modern philosophy, and inspired the work of other English thinkers, such as David Hume. A compelling and persuasive philosophical work, “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding” is a must read for all students of philosophy.
Human, All Too Human (Parts I and II)
“Human, All-Too-Human (Parts I and II)” is a collection of philosophical aphorisms by famed philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The first part, originally published in 1878, is a collection of 638 aphorisms in which Nietzsche discusses metaphysics, the Christian idea of good and evil, religious worship, the idea of divine inspiration in art, social Darwinism, the respective roles of men, women, and children in society, the power of the state, and in a final section “Man Alone with Himself”. In the second part we find what were originally published as parts II (1879) and III (1880), which contains 408 and 350 aphorisms respectively. Friedrich Nietzsche is widely regarded as one the most important philosophers of all time and that impact is ever apparent in this book, an accessible volume of thoughts upon social, religious, cultural, political, and psychological issues. Part I follows the translation of Helen Zimmern with an introduction by J. M. Kennedy. Part II is translated with an introduction by Paul V. Cohn. This edition includes a biographical afterword.
The Kybalion
Originally published in 1908 by unnamed authors calling themselves the “Three Initiates” and published by the Yogi Publication Society in Chicago, Illinois, “The Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece” is a widely read and influential study of the principles of Hermeticism. The philosophy of Hermeticism is based upon the teachings of the ancient Greek author and philosopher Hermes Trismegistus and posits that all life and truth flow from a single, universal creator. This universal creator then gave knowledge of universal truths to man and through a study of these truths of the physical world, great feats of science can be achieved and humans can reach their full potential. These truths have meaning to both the material world in its grandest sense and to the inner consciousness of each individual person. It is only by understanding the truth of the cosmos that a person can understand their own true self. The book is arranged around seven principles, which are the Principles of Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender. The seven principles are then examined in depth in their own individual chapters. This enduring occult classic has introduced countless readers to the magical and mystical teachings of Hermeticism.
The Art of Worldly Wisdom
Baltasar Gracian y Morales assumed his final vows of the Jesuits in 1635, having been raised by his uncle, a priest, and studying theology in Zaragoza, Spain. Gracian became quite famous as a preacher, and wrote a number of literary works concerning politics, practical advice for life, and philosophy. Today he is known as the most representative writer of the Spanish baroque style called Conceptismo, or Conceptism, a literary style characterized by succinct and subtle expressions of witty, significant ideas. “The Art of Worldly Wisdom” is a collection of about three hundred maxims and advice with commentary. His poetic use of rhetoric made Gracian appealing to readers, but because he published much of his work without the permission of his superiors, he was chastised by the church, and eventually sanctioned and exiled. Gracian’s most popular work, “The Art of Worldly Wisdom”, is presented here in an edition which followes the translation of Joseph Jacobs.
The Problems of Philosophy
Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell was a notable 20th century British philosopher, mathematician, historian, social critic, and political activist. Considered one of the founders of analytical philosophy, Russell was an iconoclast who helped lead the revolt against British idealism, a prominent philosophy in England at the end of the 19th century. First written in 1912, Bertrand Russell’s “The Problems of Philosophy” was an attempt by the author to create a guide that succinctly and comprehensibly outlined the difficulties he saw in the body of philosophical thought up to his time. In trying to do so, he concentrated on knowledge instead of metaphysics, hoping to spark discussion that was both productive and beneficial. This work also explains Russell’s famous distinction between ‘knowledge by acquaintance and knowledge by description’, which he first posited in 1910. Finally, “The Problems of Philosophy” draws upon the important theories of famous philosophers from Plato to Hegel in order to create a foundation for philosophical inquiry, not only for scholars but for the general public as well. While Russell does not necessarily solve the problems he sets forth, his work is still quite relevant in its scope and object for philosophers today. This edition includes a biographical afterword.