Before and After Socrates

There are no doubt countless introductions to Greek philosophy, but amidst the vast sea of choices this book easily floats above the rest. Professor Cornford's writing is rare, he displays a clear mastery of the subject and conveys his vast knowledge in a manner that is refreshingly lucid. There is no complex language to unpack or needless detail to confuse his presentation of the material. Cornford approaches the subject by addressing the general themes associated with the Ionians, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. This is a nice approach because the beginner, rather than being lost in detail, is given the "big picture" with which he can then orient the details of further reading. This is the greatest virtue of Cornford's book, and it is for that reason that I so highly recommend it.

But I do know that I love the writings of F.M. Cornford. He explains the writings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in such a way that it becomes entirely relevant to these days in which we live. Why are we the way we are? What were the beliefs of the ancient thinkers? Some of them were so tenacious in their beliefs that they were willing to give their lives for them. As a searcher of truth, this book spoke to me. Explains the "laws of nature" vs. the "laws of state" and why the former is more preferable than the latter. Cornford is a genius.

When I received this book, I was expecting a more comprehensive survey of Greek thought, but I was nonetheless pleasantly surprised. This very slim book (109 pp) is actually a series of lectures delivered by Cornford on the development of Greek philosophy from Ionian science to Socrates, his pupil Plato, and his pupil Aristotle (with nods to others such as Pythagoras and Democritus along the way). Cornford delivers in very plain language what he considers to be the essential differences between these thinkers. I found this to be a very enjoyable introduction to Greek (and Western) philosophy that can be read within an hour or two. If only more philosophers would deign to present their theories to the laity as clearly as Professor Cornford!

Although it is expensive for how short it is, it is truly a great introduction to philosophy, and worth its cost for the first two chapters alone. If you want a short introduction to early Greek philosophy, buy this book. AJB.

This is a great book for someone interested in the basics of Western philosophy. It covers the pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle in a compact 109 pages. It is true that all Western philosophy is "footnotes to Plato." Later authors expand and improve on Plato, but his texts are the beginning. This text gives you a very readable intro to Plato's main thoughts and his inspiration, i.e., his teacher--Socrates.