History

One of the most significant books ever written by a head of state, the Meditations are a collection of philosophical thoughts by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius....

Drawing on ancient Stoic wisdom and examples across history and around the world, Ryan Holiday shows why self-control is so vital, and how to cultivate it in our own lives....

The Daily Stoic offers a daily devotional of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations from Emperor Marcus Aurelius, playwright Seneca, and many more....

In How to Think Like a Roman Emperor, psychotherapist Donald Robertson weaves stories of the life of Marcus Aurelius from the Roman histories together with explanations of Stoicism - its philosophy and its psychology - to enlighten today’s listeners....

Written in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a wide range of fascinating spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe....

Seeing self-possession as the key to an existence lived 'in accordance with nature', the Stoic philosophy called for the restraint of animal instincts and the importance of upright ethical ideals and virtuous living....

Bertrand Russell's A History of Western Philosophy serves as the perfect introduction to its subject; it remains unchallenged as the greatest account of the history of Western thought....

In a book that is both groundbreaking and accessible, Daniel C. Dennett focuses his unerringly logical mind on the theory of natural selection....

Marcus Aurelius was Roman Emperor from 161 C.E. to his death in 180 C.E. He was destined to be a leader, havin being born into a prominent family - one related by blood and marriage to rulers and bankers....

Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic thought founded in Athens in the third century BC, was one of the most sublime philosophies in the history of Western civilization. It is a way of living that focuses on reality instead of fantasy or idealism....

Nearly two thousand years after it was written, Meditations remains profoundly relevant for anyone seeking to lead a meaningful life....

One of the great fears many of us face is that despite all our effort and striving, we will discover at the end that we have wasted our life....

A practical, refreshingly optimistic guide that uses centuries-old wisdom to help us better cope with the stresses of modern living....  

Being a stoic means embracing positivity and self-control through the ability to accept the uncertainty of outcomes. With this stoicism guide, the beginner stoic will learn how to take charge of their emotions on the path to sustained happiness and satisfaction....

Instead of a parenting book you listen to once as a sleep-deprived new parent, The Daily Dad provides 366 accessible meditations on fatherhood, one for each day of the year....

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath during the Classical period in Ancient Greece. His writings cover many subjects including physics, biology, zoology, metaphysics, logic, ethics, aesthetics, poetry, theatre, music, rhetoric, psychology, linguistics, economics, politics....

In ancient Greece or Rome, philosophers were seen as natural authorities on the most pressing questions....

An essential introduction to the history, concepts, and thinking behind philosophy that demystifies what can often be daunting subject matter, laid out in DK's signature style....

We all worry about what others think of us. We all long to succeed and fear failure. We all suffer - to a greater or lesser degree, usually privately and with embarrassment - from status anxiety....

Here are the Socratic Dialogues presented as Plato designed them to be - living discussions between friends and protagonists....

Epictetus, a Greek stoic and freed slave, ran a thriving philosophy school in Nicropolis in the early second century AD....

Philosophy has been underway for more than 2,000 years. The Great Philosophers traces the biggest and most influential thoughts in philosophy’s long stride through history....

A celebration of 700 years of human endeavour and achievement, in which dozens of philosophers, scientists, classicists, architects, educationalists and others explore the art of being human....

Lost Enlightenment chronicles this forgotten age of achievement, seeks to explain its rise, and explores the competing theories about the cause of its eventual demise....

The Nature of Things was written in the 1st century BC by Roman polymath Lucretius. It is written as a didactic poem, and explains Epicurean physics....

‘100 Quotes by Lao Tseu’ is a collection of thoughts and reflections by one of the most influential figures in Chinese philosophy. Thoughtful, reflective, and with a focus on personal development, his ideas are food for any hungry soul. An ideal read for those with an interest in philosophy, this book is superb for dipping in and out of, particularly if you’re in search of a drop of practical wisdom. Commonly referred to as the ‘Old Master,’ Lao Tseu (4th century) is thought to have been born in the Hu district, part of the Henan province.

Considered by many to be the most important philosopher ever, Plato was born into a well-to-do family in wartime Athens at the end of the fifth century BCE. He finally decided to go into politics, but became disillusioned, especially after the Athenians condemned his teacher, Socrates, to death. He began teaching in his twenties and later founded the Academy, the world's first higher-educational research and teaching establishment. Eventually, he returned to practical politics and spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to create a constitution for Syracuse in Sicily.

Aristotle said that philosophy begins with wonder, and the first Western philosophers developed theories of the world which express simultaneously their sense of wonder and their intuition that the world should be comprehensible. But their enterprise was by no means limited to this proto-scientific task. Through, for instance, Heraclitus's enigmatic sayings, the poetry of Parmenides and Empedocles, and Zeno's paradoxes, the Western world was introduced to metaphysics, rationalist theology, ethics, and logic.

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BC-AD 65) is one of the most famous Roman philosophers. Instrumental in guiding the Roman Empire under emperor Nero, Seneca influenced him from a young age with his Stoic principles. Later in life, he wrote Letters from a Stoic, detailing these principles in full. Seneca’s letters read like a diary or a handbook of philosophical meditations. Often beginning with observations on daily life, the letters focus on many traditional themes of Stoic philosophy, such as the contempt of death, the value of friendship, and virtue as the supreme good.

Are you interested in philosophy but don't know where to start? Do you want a concise and accessible guide to Western philosophy's essential concepts and thinkers? Look no further than Flash Philosophy. From Anselm's ontological argument for the existence of God to Schopenhauer's thoughts on sexual love's true nature, Flash Philosophy takes you on a chronological journey through almost three millennia, examining the key concepts and theories that have shaped the field over time.

Historians, even historians of philosophy, have tended to dismiss Stoicism lightly, and popular opinion has taken the cue. No doubt, relevant reasons abound. The riches of Socrates, Democritus, Plato, and Aristotle served to accentuate the comparative poverty of the next age.

For centuries, Stoicism was the unofficial religion of the Roman world. The stress on endurance, self-restraint, and power of the will to withstand calamity can often seem cold-hearted. It is Epictetus, a lame former slave exiled by Emperor Domitian, who offers the most precise and humane version of Stoic ideals. The Discourses, assembled by his pupil Arrian, catch him in action, publicly setting out his views on ethical dilemmas. Enchiridion, or Manual, is a distillation of his teachings and an essential manual for those seeking contentment.

Stoicism has a lot to offer that is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago—its guiding purpose was to help us to live better lives. The Stoic golden rule was that "we can't control external events, but we can choose how to respond to them". This idea can have a profound effect on how we exist in the world.

So sit back, relax, and perhaps pour yourself a drink or light up a cigar if that's your preference. Join the author on this thought-provoking exploration, where the wisdom of ancient philosophies meets the challenges of the 21st century. Stoic Taoism offers a unique perspective that will inspire you to find your own truth and embrace a fulfilling life in today's fast-paced society.

The history of philosophy is beset by unresolved disputes. These disputes are passed down from generation to generation as problems to be solved. If not solved, they engender skepticism. Philosophical disputes, posed as problems, can be resolved or dissolved if we first acknowledge that some things are clear to reason.

The Five Great Philosophies of Life by William De Witt Hyde is a profound and enlightening exploration of five ancient philosophies. This book explores the wisdom that has shaped how we understand and explore "the meaning of life". Hyde invites the listener to dive deep into these five philosophies, uncovering their thought-provoking and practical applications and how to survive in a world that's out of control.

Written in Greek by an intellectual Roman emperor without any intention of publication, the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius offer a wide range of fascinating spiritual reflections and exercises developed as the leader struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Spanning from doubt and despair to conviction and exaltation, they cover such diverse topics as the question of virtue, human rationality, the nature of the gods and the values of leadership.

The influence of Plato, his Dialogues and his ‘Academy', cast a long shadow. Around 35 Dialogues, almost all featuring Socrates as the principal figure, are generally ascribed to Plato and form one of the most important threads in Western philosophy. These four Dialogues may fall into the ‘Attributed Texts' category, but they are of sufficient interest to warrant study in our time and when set against the principal canon.

Over the millennia, the great thinkers of the world have sought to come up with rules for how to live better lives, how to govern better, and how to understand the world around us. As they have written down their thoughts, they have discovered laws and techniques that can help further advance human thought and explain why the world is the way it is today.

Pragmatism, America's homegrown philosophy, has been a major intellectual movement for over a century. Unlike its rivals, it reaches well beyond the confines of philosophy into concerns and disciplines as diverse as religion, politics, science, and culture. In this concise, engagingly written overview, John R. Shook describes pragmatism's origins, concepts, and continuing global relevance and appeal.