Krótki i praktyczny poradnik dla nowoczesnego stoika. Od kilku lat stoicyzm
cieszy się coraz większą popularnością. Ale o co tak naprawdę chodziło
stoikom? By odpowiedzieć na to pytanie, filozof John Sellars na nowo odczytuje
dzieła Seneki, Epikteta i Marka Aureliusza. Przygląda się nie tylko
pozostawionym przez nich tekstom, ale też ich codzienności, która pomaga
zrozumieć, czego starożytni mogą nauczyć nas dzisiaj. Na nieco ponad stu
stronach Sellars wyjaśnia, jak według stoików radzić sobie z emocjami,
przezwyciężać porażki i w końcu – jak odnaleźć swoje miejsce w życiu.
John Sellars presents a broad and lively introduction to Hellenistic
philosophy (c.330-30 BC). This was a rich period for philosophy, with the
birth of Epicureanism and Stoicism, alongside the activities of Platonists,
Aristotelians, and Cynics. Sellars offers accessible coverage of all areas
from epistemology to ethics and politics.
A short, smart guide to living the good life through the teachings of Epicurus.As long as there has been human life, we’ve searched for what it means to be happy. More than two thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Epicurus came to his own all we really want in life is pleasure. Though today we tend to associate the word “Epicurean” with indulgence in the form of food and wine, the philosophy of Epicurus was about a life well lived even in the hardest of times. As John Sellars shows in this concise, approachable guide, the ideal life envisioned by Epicurus and his followers was a life much more concerned with mental pleasures and the avoidance of pain. Their goal, in short, was a life of tranquility or contentment. In The Pocket Epicurean Sellars walks us through the history of Epicureanism, starting with the private garden on the edge of ancient Athens where Epicurus and his students lived in the fourth century BC, and where women were as welcome as men. Sellars then moves on to ancient Rome, where Epicurean influence flourished thanks to the poet Lucretius and his cohort. Throughout the book, Sellars draws on the ideas of Epicurus to offer a constructive way of thinking about the pleasures of friendship and our place in the world.
There is in Athens a rather plain ruin; a simple courtyard lined with fragments of wall. Yet, this little patch of land has a claim to be the most significant place in human history. It is the Lyceum, site of Aristotle's school- here the philosopher wandered, discussing his life's work with students, proposing answers to the mysteries of the human condition. Today, it can be difficult to fully comprehend the staggering influence of these lessons. Aristotle's observations about the world around him and his reflections on the nature of knowledge laid the foundations for all empirical science. His study of rational thought formed the basis of formal logic, the cornerstone of philosophical investigation. His examination of Greek city-states gave us political science, while his analysis of drama remains a mainstay of literature courses around the world. In lucid prose, acclaimed philosopher John Sellars takes us on a journey through Aristotle's thought, vividly bringing to life the key ideas, and demonstrating that the famous philosopher's capacity for curiosity continues to offer us all a vision of more fulfilled lives. Aristotle has lessons still to teach.
Stoicism needs a new work of this kind. Sellars not only takes good account of the last thirty years of research, he also has much of his own to contribute. I particularly applaud his focus on Epictetus and on Stoicism as an art of life. --A.A. Long, author of Stoic Studies
What do we really need in order to live a happy life? An Epicurean antidote to anxiety Over two thousand years ago the Greek philosopher Epicurus offered a seemingly simple answer: all we really want is pleasure. Today we tend to associate the word 'Epicurean' with the enjoyment of fine food and wine and decadent self-indulgence. But, as philosopher John Sellars shows, these things are a world away from the vision of a pleasant life developed by Epicurus and his followers who were more concerned with mental pleasures and avoiding pain. Their goal, in short, was a life of tranquillity. In this uplifting and elegant book, Sellars walks us through the history of Epicureanism from a private garden on the edge of ancient Athens to the streets of Rome, showing us how it can help us think anew about joy, friendship, nature and being alive in the world.
