{"product_id":"calling-philosophers-names-on-the-origin-of-a-discipline-9780691230221","title":"Calling Philosophers Names: On the Origin of a Discipline","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eCalling Philosophers Names is an original and thought-provoking book that reveals the surprising early meanings of the word \"philosopher\" in ancient Greece. It challenges the conventional view that philosophers were simply intellectuals who loved wisdom and shows that they were initially mocked for their unrealistic belief that their incessant talking and study would earn them social status or political and moral authority. The book demonstrates that the word \"philosopher\" came to mean a life of determined self-improvement based on research, reflection, and deliberation and that early philosophy was dedicated to justifying its own dubious-seeming enterprise. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 440 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 23 November 2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Princeton University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCalling Philosophers Names is a groundbreaking book that delves into the origins of philosophy in ancient Greece by unveiling the surprising early meanings of the term \"philosopher.\" Tracing the evolution of the word's significance over its first two centuries, author Christopher Moore reveals how it initially referred to aspiring political sages and advice-givers, then evolved to encompass avid conversationalists focused on virtue. Moore challenges the conventional notion that philosophers from the beginning were driven by a desire for wisdom or intellectual cultivation, instead suggesting that they were often mocked for their unrealistic belief that their incessant talking and study would earn them social status or political and moral authority.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn seeking to understand who were called \"philosophers\" and why, the book adopts a fresh approach to the history of early Greek philosophy. It employs a wide range of evidence to demonstrate how a word that began as a wry reference to a far-flung political bloc gradually transformed into a term that signified a life of determined self-improvement based on research, reflection, and deliberation. Early philosophy, in its quest for legitimacy, dedicated itself to justifying its own dubious-seeming enterprise, and this original impulse holds profound implications for understanding the history of the discipline and its influence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough its meticulous exploration of the term's historical development, Calling Philosophers Names offers a valuable insight into the complex and multifaceted nature of early Greek philosophy. It sheds light on the social and cultural context in which the discipline emerged, the challenges faced by its practitioners, and the ways in which they sought to establish themselves as legitimate thinkers. The book also highlights the enduring relevance of the early Greek philosophical tradition, as it continues to shape our understanding of the world and our place in it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, Calling Philosophers Names is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of philosophy, ancient Greece, or the broader field of intellectual inquiry. It provides a thought-provoking and illuminating account of the origins of the term \"philosopher\" and its profound impact on the development of early Greek philosophy and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 235 x 156 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780691230221\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Christopher Moore","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":44101559812346,"sku":"9780691230221","price":25.89,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/1646172712487_book.jpg?v=1646920149","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/calling-philosophers-names-on-the-origin-of-a-discipline-9780691230221","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}