3 Review(s)

Democritus' atomic theory of matter, Zeno's dazzling 'proofs' that motion is impossible, Pythagorean insights into mathematics, Heraclitus' haunting and enigmatic epigrams – all form part of a revolution in human thought which relied on reasoning to justify its conclusions and forged the first scientific vocabulary. Although none of their original writings have come down to us complete, patient detective work enables us to reconstruct the crucial questions they asked and their absorbing answers. Here Jonathon Barnes brings together the surviving Presocratic fragments in their original contexts, allowing modern readers to get to grips with these pioneering thinkers whose, ideas remain at the centre of philosophical debate. The revised edition of the collection has been updated to take account of further research and a major new papyrus of Empedocles.