Poem of Empedocles: A Text and Translation with a Commentary / Edition 1

by Brad Inwood

Overview

This revised edition of The Poem of Empedocles (1992) integrates substantial new material from a recently discovered papyrus and published by A. Martin and O. Primavesi. The papyrus contains evidence of over seventy lines or part lines of poetry, of which more than fifty are both new and usable. The integration of this material into the previously known fragments has significant impact on our understanding of Empedocles, one of the most influential philosophers and poets of antiquity.

This volume provides the reader with the fullest and most accessible set of evidence for the doctrines and poetic achievement of this Presocratic philosopher. The Greek text of the fragments (with English facing page translation) has been revised to include the new material; textual notes have also been enhanced. The revised introduction orients the reader to the study of Empedocles and assesses the significance of the new material. The new papyrus fragments shed some light on the controversial question of the number of poems and provide new insight into the relationship between human beings and the material components we are composed of and into the reasons for our incarnation. Most important, the new fragments yield further confirmation that eschatological and cosmological themes were inextricably interconnected in Empedocles' philosophical poetry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780802083531
Publisher:	University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division
Publication date:	04/01/2001
Series:	Phoenix Supplementary Volumes Series , #39
Edition description:	Revised edition
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Brad Inwood is Professor of Classics, University of Toronto.

Editorial Reviews

"The principle aim of this book is...to make available for students with a philosophical interest in Empedocles (whether they read ancient Greek or not) the texts necessary for an exploration of his thought" (from the Introduction). This revised edition integrates new material from recently discovered papyrus into previously known fragments of Empedocles' work. The volume presents the Greek text with English facing-page translation. Inwood (classics, University of Toronto) provides an introduction to the material and puts the work in its historical and philosophical context. A concordance is also provided. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews