The Life Worth Living in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy
The Life Worth Living in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy
Regular price
Checking stock...
Regular price
Checking stock...
Summary
The account of the best life for humans - a happy or flourishing life - was the central theme of ancient ethics. This book explores the less-examined ancient theme of what constitutes a life worth living, and reconstructs philosophical engagements with that theme from Socrates to Plotinus.
The feel-good place to buy books
- Free US shipping over $15
- Buying preloved emits 41% less CO2 than new
- Millions of affordable books
- Give your books a new home - sell them back to us!
The Life Worth Living in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy by David Machek
The account of the best life for humans – i.e. a happy or flourishing life – and what it might consist of was the central theme of ancient ethics. But what does it take to have a life that, if not happy, is at least worth living, compared with being dead or never having come into life? This question was also much discussed in antiquity, and David Machek's book reconstructs, for the first time, philosophical engagements with the question from Socrates to Plotinus. Machek's comprehensive book explores ancient views on a life worth living against a background of the pessimistic outlook on the human condition which was adopted by the Greek poets, and also shows the continuities and contrasts between the ancient perspective and modern philosophical debates about biomedical ethics and the ethics of procreation. His rich study of this relatively neglected theme offers a fresh and compelling narrative of ancient ethics.
'Machek's book on 'the life worth living' is a fascinating addition to the literature on ancient Greek and Roman ethicsIt systematically investigates, with subtlety and rigor, important questions about a worthwhile life and the value of life that are peripheral to or ignored by standard studies of ancient ethical theory.' Richard Kraut, Northwestern University
'[The book] is strongly to be commended for the freshness of the questions it poses and for the author's intelligent approach to answering them.' A. A. Long, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
'[The book] is strongly to be commended for the freshness of the questions it poses and for the author's intelligent approach to answering them.' A. A. Long, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
David Machek is a Research Fellow at the Department of Philosophy, Universität Bern. He has published articles in journals including Apeiron, Archiv für die Geschichte der Philosophie, Journal of the History of Philosophy, and Philosophy East and West.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781009257862 |
| ISBN 10 | 1009257862 |
| Title | The Life Worth Living in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy |
| Author | David Machek |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Year published | 2024-07-11 |
| Number of pages | 271 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |