Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 540
•
Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
978-1-4422-4638-6 • Hardback • February 2015 • $195.00 • (£150.00)
978-1-4422-4639-3 • eBook • February 2015 • $185.00 • (£142.00)
Anthony Preus is Distinguished Teaching Professor at Binghamton University, where he has taught since 1964. He has been Master of College-in-the-Woods since 2000. He is also Secretary of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy.
Editor’s foreword
Acknowledgments
Citations and Abbreviations
Chronology
Introduction
The Dictionary
Glossary
Bibliography
About the Author
A lengthy introduction to the entries, which range from short biographies of philosophers to definitions of words found in Plato’s Republic, includes a history of early philosophy and philosophers. The introduction to the bibliography...lists online resources that students can access for additional information, which adds to the value of this update. Verdict: A must-have for students and teachers of philosophy.
— Library Journal
The second edition of this useful dictionary by Preus—last reviewed in 2008—covers not only Hellenic philosophy but also its development through the Hellenistic period and imperial Rome and into the Byzantine survivals of Greek philosophy. The bulk of the work comprises short, alphabetized entries that cover a fairly comprehensive list of the historical figures encountered in Hellenic philosophy as well as entries giving information about important cities. Its most useful aspect is providing wonderful conceptual entries, typically listed under a transliterated Greek spelling followed by the Hellenic spelling and linked to other concepts through numerous see and see also references. The entries reference the relevant primary texts, and the discussions of philosophical concepts trace developments through different philosophers. The glossary is well organized and links Hellenic and English terms. Preus provides a lengthy, carefully constructed bibliography that is an excellent resource for further research. His introductory article is a cogent, brief summation of the history of Hellenic philosophy for those first approaching this topic area, but the real strength of this work is that it functions as a highly effective tool to use in conjunction with the primary sources. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All academic audiences.
— Choice Reviews
[T]his is a very full and a very useful reference book, an excellent starting point for any study of ancient Greek philosophy.
— Reference Reviews
Here is a project I can give an easy 5-stars to just because it executes exactly what it promises to in the title and does this with scholarly professionalism. . . The entries are detailed and useful. If I ever have to write about this place and time, and I come across a complex philosophic term, I can find it alphabetically here and gain a brisk understanding, which I might quote in my own research. . . . This is a useful tool for all critics and researchers, even those studying various other languages or histories because Greco-Roman culture survives in echoes in our own international cultures, and understanding these roots is frequently essential to comprehend modern reincarnations of these very old ideas.
— Pennsylvania Literary Journal