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The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works — John Shaqi

Philosophy

The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works

Name: The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works
Author: Fairbanks, Arthur

Fairbanks, Arthur

Philosophy, Ancient

In the present work it has been my plan to prepare for the student a
Greek text of the fragments of these early philosophers which shall
represent as accurately as possible the results of recent scholarship,
and to add such critical notes as may be necessary to enable the scholar
to see on what basis the text rests. From this text I have prepared
a translation of the fragments into English, and along with this a
translation of the important passages bearing on these early thinkers
in Plato and Aristotle, and in the Greek doxographists as collected by
Diels, in order that the student of early Greek thought might have before
him in compact form practically all the materials on which the history
of this thought is to be based. It has been difficult, especially in
the case of Herakleitos and the Pythagoreans, to draw the line between
material to be inserted, and that to be omitted; but, in order to keep
the volume within moderate limits, my principle has been to insert only
the passages from Plato and Aristotle and from the doxographists.

The Greek text of Herakleitos is based on the edition of Bywater; that
of Xenophanes on the edition of the Greek lyric poets by Hiller-Bergk;
that of Parmenides on the edition of Karsten; and that of Empedokles on
the edition of Stein. I have not hesitated, however, to differ from these
authorities in minor details, indicating in the notes the basis for the
text which I have given.

For a brief discussion of the relative value of the sources of these
fragments the student is referred to the Appendix.

My thanks are due to several friends for their kind assistance, in
particular to Professor C. L. Brownson and Professor G. D. Lord, who
have read much of the book in proof, and have given me many valuable
suggestions. Nor can I pass over without mention the debt which all
workers in this field owe to Hermann Diels. It is my great regret that
his edition of Parmenides’ _Lehrgedicht_ failed to reach me until most of
the present work was already printed. Nevertheless there is scarcely a
page of the whole book which is not based on the foundation which he has
laid.

                                                         ARTHUR FAIRBANKS.

YALE UNIVERSITY: _November 1897_.




CONTENTS


                                              PAGE

       I. IONIC SCHOOL: THALES                   1

      II. IONIC SCHOOL: ANAXIMANDROS            10

     III. IONIC SCHOOL: ANAXIMENES              20

      IV. HERAKLEITOS                           28

       V. ELEATIC SCHOOL: XENOPHANES            68

      VI. ELEATIC SCHOOL: PARMENIDES            91

     VII. ELEATIC SCHOOL: ZENO                 119

    VIII. ELEATIC SCHOOL: MELISSOS             129

      IX. PYTHAGORAS AND THE PYTHAGOREANS      142

       X. EMPEDOKLES                           174

      XI. ANAXAGORAS                           253

          APPENDIX                             263

          INDEXES                              289

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The first philosophers of Greece : $b An edition and translation of the remaining fragments of the pre-Sokratic philosophers, together with a translation of the more important accounts of their opinions contained in the early epitomes of their works

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