In modern culture ancient philosophers are depicted as educators
of humanity, repositories of virgin knowledge, cultural organizers, university
professors, precursors of scientists, organic intellectuals, and so on. Yet
none of these images adequately reflects the ancient philosopher in his historical
evolution, his essence, his standing in his own contemporary context. So what
did it really mean to be a philosopher in Greece and Rome? In the ancient world
philosophy was never just a set of doctrines, a collection of investigative
procedures, or an arsenal of techniques for reasoning. Indeed, it always strove
to present itself as a specific way of life. The author pursues this line of
thought in this overview of the models of philosophical life that developed
over a thousand years, from the coining of the word "philosopher" in the 4th
century B.C.E. to the definitive consolidation of Christianity, that successfully
introduced a new way of life contrasting with tradition.
Giuseppe Cambiano teaches History of Ancient Philosophy at the Normal School of the University of Pisa.
- Introduzione
- I. Le metamorfosi del filosofo
- II. I filosofi nelle città e nell'impero
- III. Gli strumenti dei filosofi: oralità e scrittura
- IV. I filosofi e l'uso del passato
- Conclusione. Filosofo antico e filosofi moderni
- Cronologia
- Abbreviazioni
- Bibliografia
- Indice dei nomi