From Athens to America: Readings in Western Philosophy

These readings from the literature of western philosophy have been collected to serve a practical home and classroom purposes: to make available to readers a sampling of the ideas of some of history’s great thinkers on the subject of human values. The selection is eclectic but not random. The excerpts included have been used in philosophy classes and have been the basis for thoughtful and spirited discussions.
The intent of the anthologists is not to instill values but to encourage readers to test their own assumptions and opinions against a variety of ideas and to emerge from the encounter better prepared to shape the values by which they will live their own lives.

This book contains selected passages from significant works by some of the most influential thinkers in western civilization.

Contents
Introduction

 

 

• PLATO
  From The Apology of Socrates
  From The Republic (Book One)
  From The Republic (Book Two)
  From The Republic (Book Four)
  From The Republic (Book Seven)
• ARISTOTLE
  From The Nichomachean Ethics (Book One)
  From The Nichomachean Ethics (Book Two)
• EPICURUS
  From his Letter to Menoecius
• EPICTETUS
  From The Enchiridion
• MARCUS AURELIUS
  From Meditations
• AUGUSTINE
  From The Confessions
• FRANCIS BACON
  From Novum Organum
• THOMAS HOBBES
  From Leviathan
• RENE DESCARTES
  From Discourse on Method
• BENEDICT SPINOZA
  From On the Improvement of the Understanding
• JOHN LOCKE
  From Essay Concerning Human Understanding
• JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU
  From The Social Contract
• DAVID HUME
  From Essays, Moral and Political
• IMMANUEL KANT
  From The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals
• G.W.F. HEGEL
  From The Philosophy of Religion
• ARTHUR SCHOPENHAUER
  From On the Basis of Morality
• SOREN KIERKEGAARD
  From The Attack on Christendom
• JOHN STUART MILL
  From Utilitarianism
• FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
  From Beyond Good and Evil
• WILLIAM JAMES
  From The Will to Believe

SOURCES
 

 

 

Dr. John C. Powell earned degrees at Oklahoma City University and Oklahoma State University. He is Dean of Faculty at Heritage Hall in Oklahoma City, where he teaches history, art history, and philosophy.