This essential volume presents two of the most influential philosophical texts of the Neoplatonist thinker Porphyry, a towering figure in late antiquity whose writings helped bridge the gap between Platonic metaphysics, classical religion, and early Christian theology. In On Abstinence from Animal Food, Porphyry lays out a sweeping ethical, metaphysical, and theological argument for vegetarianism, rooted in the belief that nonviolence toward all living beings is a condition for spiritual p...

An entertaining and enlightening anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings on animals—and our vital relationships with themHow to Care about Animals is a fascinating menagerie of passages from classical literature about animals and the lives we share with them. Drawing on ancient writers from Aesop to Ovid, classicist and farmer M. D. Usher has gathered a healthy litter of selections that reveal some of the ways Greeks and Romans thought about everyt...

Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians gathers some of antiquity's most consequential pagan and non-Christian challenges to the rising Christian movement. Ranging across historiography, philosophical polemic, imperial invective, and antiquarian testimony, the volume situates fragments such as the True Discourse and Against the Galileans within a broader literary culture of debate, skepticism, and religious contestation in the Roman world. Its assemble...

In the anthology *Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians*, readers are thrust into the fervent ideological debates of the ancient world, rich with the clashing perspectives that defined early Christian and pagan dialogues. This collection serves as an intellectual tapestry showcasing a range of literary styles from rigorous rhetorical treatises to impassioned polemics, reflecting the heated exchanges of the time. Each piece stands out as a testament t...

A delightful anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings celebrating country living—ranging from a philosophy of compost to hymns to the gods of agricultureWhether you farm or garden, live in the country or long to move there, or simply enjoy an occasional rural retreat, you will be delighted by this cornucopia of writings about living and working on the land, harvested from the fertile fields of ancient Greek and Roman literature. An inspiring antidote to the ...

In the fascinating anthology "Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians," readers will encounter a unique exploration of early theological and philosophical critiques directed at Christianity during the formative years of the Roman Empire. This collection deftly assembles a spectrum of literary styles that range from philosophical discourse to historical documentation. It highlights the intellectual rigor and diverse literary strategies that these thinke...

The 'Arguments of Celsus, Porphyry, and the Emperor Julian, Against the Christians' is an illuminating anthology that captures the intellectual currents of Antiquity through an array of critiques aimed at the burgeoning Christian ideology. This collection presents a tapestry of literary and rhetorical styles, from Celsus' sharp dialectic to Porphyry's philosophical rigor, and Julian's imperial proclamations. Set within the context of a world grappling with religious transition, these works...

Porphyry of Tyre was a third-century Neoplatonic philosopher and follower of Plotinus. He edited and published ‘The Enneads’, the only collection of his teacher’s work. Porphyry also wrote original works in Greek on a wide variety of topics, including philosophy, religion, vegetarianism, philology and science, while revealing a scholarly care in citing authorities. His influential work ‘Isagoge’, an introduction to logic and philosophy, was the standard textbook on logic throughout...

An entertaining and enlightening anthology of classical Greek and Roman writings on animals—and our vital relationships with themHow to Care about Animals is a fascinating menagerie of passages from classical literature about animals and the lives we share with them. Drawing on ancient writers from Aesop to Ovid, classicist and farmer M. D. Usher has gathered a healthy litter of selections that reveal some of the ways Greeks and Romans thought about everyt...

Epictetus was a Greek Stoic philosopher.He was born into slavery at Hierapolis, Phrygia (present-day Pamukkale, in western Turkey) and lived in Rome until his banishment, when he went to Nicopolis in northwestern Greece for the rest of his life. His teachings were written down and published by his pupil Arrian in his Discourses and Enchiridion.Epictetus taught that philosophy is a way of life and not simply a theoretical discipline. To Epictetus, all external events are beyond our c...

This e-book brings together important and influential works by celebrated scholars from East to West into a single collection.Contents:Sun Tzu The Art of WarConfucius AnalectsLao Tzu Tao Te ChingPlatoEarly: The Apology of Socrates, Charmides, Crito, Euthyphro, Ion, Laches, Lysis, MenexenusMiddle: The Republic, The Allegory of the Cave, Symposium, Meno, PhaedoLate: CritiasAristotlePoeticsParva NaturaliaSense...

The Discoursesby EpictetusFor instance, the tyrant says, "I am master of all." And what can you do for me? Can you give me desire which shall have no hindrance? How can you? Have you the infallible power of avoiding what you would avoid? Have you the power of moving toward an object without error? And how do you possess this power?Epictetus (c. A.D. 60-after 100) was a former slave exiled by the Emperor Domitian, who taught the most humane version of Stoic philosophy...