The Philosophical Stage offers a fresh perspective on ancient Greek drama as a mode of philosophical thinking, highlighting its significance in understanding early Greek philosophy. Joshua Billings argues that drama is our best source for understanding the intellectual culture of classical Athens and develops a method of reading dramatic form as a structured investigation of philosophical issues.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 04 June 2024
Publisher: Princeton University Press

A bold new reconception of ancient Greek drama as a mode of philosophical thinking

The Philosophical Stage offers an innovative approach to ancient Greek literature and thought that places drama at the heart of intellectual history. Drawing on evidence from tragedy and comedy, Joshua Billings shines new light on the development of early Greek philosophy, arguing that drama is our best source for understanding the intellectual culture of classical Athens. In this incisive book, Billings recasts classical Greek intellectual history as a conversation across discourses and demonstrates the significance of dramatic reflections on widely shared theoretical questions. He argues that neither literature nor philosophy was a defined category in the fifth century BCE, and develops a method of reading dramatic form as a structured investigation of issues at the heart of the emerging discipline of philosophy.

A breathtaking work of intellectual history by one of today's most original classical scholars

The Philosophical Stage presents a novel approach to ancient drama and sets a path for a renewed understanding of early Greek thought. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of literature, philosophy, and the history of ideas.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691225074