Beginning of Philosophy

The Beginning of Philosophy by Hans-Georg Gadamer, translated by Rod Coltman, 125 pages

In The Beginning of Philosophy Gadamer reconsiders the origins of philosophy as Greek thought moved from Homer and Hesiod to Plato and Aristotle, "from mythos to logos", through the pre-Socratic philosophers.  He makes a compelling case that the pre-Socratics have traditionally been misinterpreted by misunderstanding their entire approach to philosophy, as well as by assuming that they had access to the set concepts which were still in development in their thought.  To understand them rightly, we must attempt to recapture some of their context by reaching back through our best sources for their teachings, Plato and Aristotle, and grasping the uses and misuses those thinkers made of their predecessors.  In the process of this ressourcement, Gadamer attempts to reintroduce the pre-Socratics, especially Parmenides, as living voices, rather than as the static representatives of schools defined into existence by nineteenth century historiographers.

This book has its origins in a series of academic lectures.  As such, it is not likely to interest casual readers, nor is it a good first introduction to the pre-Socratics.