The Classics of Western Philosophy: A Reader's Guide

The Classics of Western Philosophy brings together 61 newly-commissioned essays on classic texts ranging from Ancient Greece to the twentieth century. Surveying the history of philosophy, the book focuses on historical texts rather than historical figures and covers the entire range of classics in a single volume.Accessible to a general readership, the contributions provide lively and well-substantiated expositions of the main arguments of each classic work, and highlight the significance of the work for the broader philosophical tradition. Each essay includes current references to a select bibliography of major articles and books. Engaging and authoritative, this volume is essential reading for anyone interested in the great works of Western philosophy.

Jorge J. E. Gracia is Samuel P. Capen Chair and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is author of several books, including Hispanic/Latino Identity (Blackwell, 2000) and How Can We Know What God Means? (2001). He is editor, with Timothy B. Noone, of A Companion to Philosophy in the Middle Ages (Blackwell, 2003).

Gregory M. Reichberg is Senior Research Fellow at the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) and associate editor of the Journal of Military Ethics. He has published widely on the ethics of war and peace, and on topics in Thomistic philosophy.

Bernard N. Schumacher is Privatdocent of Philosophy at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He is the author of Une philosophie de l’espérance (2000) and Auseinandersetzung mit dem Tode (2003). He is also the editor of several books, including Penser l’homme et la science (1996).