Happiness and Greek Ethical Thought [Hardcover]

This book presents a fresh exploration of happiness through the ideas of the ancient Greek philosophers. It introduces readers to the main currents of Greek ethical thought (Socratic living, Platonism, Aristotelianism, Epicureanism, Scepticism, Stoicism, Cynicism) and takes a close look at characters such as Socrates, Diogenes and Alexander the Great.
Yet Happiness and Greek Ethical Thought is much more than just a casual stroll through ancient thinking. It attempts to show how certain common themes in Greek thought are essential for living a happy life in any age. The author maintains that, in many respects, the Greek integrative ideal, contrary to the hedonistic individualism that many pluralistic societies at least implicitly advocate, is a much richer alternative that warrants honest reconsideration today.

List of FiguresList of Abbreviations Preface Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: Four Views of Happiness 1. Happiness and Beauty: Platonic Eroticism in Symposium 2. Happiness as a Mean: Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics 3. Happiness and Pleasure: Epicurean Hedonism 4. Happiness and Doubt: Greek Skepticism PART II: Three Levels of Integration 5. Happiness and Personal Integration 6. Happiness and Political Integration 7. Happiness and Cosmic Integration Postscript Appendix A: Important Names Appendix B: Important Terms Bibliography Index