Introduction

Abstract

During the latter half of the twentieth century in the wake of the rise of analytic philosophy, there was also a revival of the study of ancient Greek philosophy. This tandem development was no coincidence. Historians of philosophy came to realize that the new methods of philosophical analysis and criticism could be put to use in uncovering lost treasures in ancient Greek philosophical texts. Plato, Aristotle, and other classical thinkers had themselves used sophisticated techniques of analysis, definition, and argumentation to grapple with fundamental issues and to make important theoretical contributions. Even the apparent missteps committed by the ancients might prove to be instructive. David Keyt’s memoir, “A Life in the Academy,” which is the first essay in this volume, sheds valuable light on this history.