Idea of Progress in Classical Antiquity

Ludwig Edelstein characterizes the idea of "progress" in Greek and Roman times. He analyzes the ancients' belief in "a tendency inherent in nature or in man to pass through a regular sequence of stages of development in past, present, and future, the latter stages being--with perhaps occasional retardations or minor regressions--superior to the earlier." Edelstein's contemporaries asserted that the Greeks and Romans were entirely ignorant of a belief in progress in this sense of the term. In arguing against this dominant thesis, Edelstein draws from the conclusions of scholars of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and discusses ideas of Auguste Comte and Wilhelm Dilthey.

About the author

Ekaterina N. Lomperis is a PhD candidate in theology at the University of Chicago and a junior fellow at the Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion.

Summary

In arguing against this dominant thesis, Edelstein draws from the conclusions of scholars of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and discusses ideas of Auguste Comte and Wilhelm Dilthey.

Product details

• Authors: Ludwig Edelstein, Edelstein Ludwig
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.11.2019
• EAN: 9781421435572
• ISBN: 978-1-4214-3557-2
• No. of pages: 248
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Medicine > General; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Philosophy, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, PHILOSOPHY / Individual Philosophers, Classical history / classical civilisation, ancient philosophy