Ancient Evenings – Nine Pyrrhonian Dialogues

The dialogue is a classic format within ancient Hellenic philosophy, and here the author re-enacts three series of dialogues on good and evil, truth, and life and death – these allow for an elaboration and exchange of arguments between different schools of thought, and are based on surviving material from ten ancient philosophers. The framework is resolutely secular and naturalistic, setting aside transcendent Platonic and Pythagorean perspectives, while pursuing the question of how best to live in the world. The author has already written about parallels between Buddhism and Pyrrhonism and brings this viewpoint into the dialogues – the aim was to achieve ataraxia, a state of tranquillity and suspension of judgement about beliefs. Two of the eight characters are women, and they play an active part in the dialogue. The themes are perennial ones revisited in every generation, and the book will appeal especially to readers of a philosophical bent with an interest in ancient philosophy.