Rivals in wisdom : early Greek philosophical poetry and the invention of philosophy / Nicolò Benzi

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benzi, Nicolò, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philosophy, Ancient--History.

Philosophy, Ancient.

Philosophy in literature.

Greek poetry--History and criticism.

Greek poetry.

Genre:

History

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Liverpool : Liverpool University Press, 2026

Summary:

"Rivals in Wisdom offers a fresh perspective on the longstanding question of the origins of Greek philosophy by considering anew the competitive intellectual milieu of Archaic and early Classical Greece. Specifically, it argues that the emergence of Greek philosophy as a new discipline with specific methodologies and paradigms of enquiry should be traced back to the philosopher-poets’ critical engagement with the agonistic modes of production and transmission of wisdom in Archaic Greece (c. 800-480 BCE). By exploring the ways in which Xenophanes, Parmenides, Empedocles and Epicharmus substantiated their own claims to sapiential authority, and thereby challenged their predecessors and rivals, the book shows how they redefined the terms and forms of competition. Their enterprise radically modified the rules of intellectual debate itself and contributed to the shaping of philosophy as we know it"-- JSTOR

Contents:

Figures of wisdom in Archaic and early Classical Greece

Xenophanes, the satirical reformer

Parmenides and the redefinition of truth

Empedocles, the divine philosopher

Epicharmus, or the wise man at theatre

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 199-226) and index

Online resource; title from PDF title page (JSTOR, viewed April 28, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version Benzi, Nicolò Rivals in wisdom

ISBN:

9781836249061

1836249063

9781836249139

1836249136

OCLC:

1521333058