Historical Dictionary of Ancient Greek Philosophy

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 *
[T]his is a very full and a very useful reference book, an excellent starting point for any study of ancient Greek philosophy. * s *