This page aims to make learning about Presocratic philosophy as easy as possible by bringing together the best articles, podcasts, and videos from across the internet onto one page. To get started, simply choose one of the resources listed below:
Encyclopedia Articles
This section features articles from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The SEP is probably the most comprehensive online philosophy resource. It features in-depth articles on a huge number of philosophical topics, however, it is aimed at an academic audience and may be too detailed and technical for beginners. The IEP is generally more beginner-friendly but is also considered to be less reliable. Wikipedia is also an option, but it is much less reliable than either of these.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Presocratic Philosophy
- Anaxagoras
- Pythagoras
- Empedocles
- Xenophanes
- Heraclitus
- Zeno of Elea
- Parmenides
- The Sophists
- Zeno’s Paradoxes
- Leucippus
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Presocratics
- Anaximenes
- Parmenides of Elea
- Anaxagoras
- Anaximander
- Thales of Miletus
- Heraclitus
- Empedocles
- Xenophanes
- The Sophists
- Protagoras
- Pythagoras
- Gorgias
- Zeno’s Paradoxes
Articles
This section features short articles written by professional philosophers and aimed at a general audience. These articles are ideal for anyone looking for a shorter or more beginner-friendly introduction to the Presocratics than the encyclopedia articles listed above.
Aeon
- Can we hope to understand how the Greeks saw their world? – by Maria Michela Sassi
- Can you step in the same river twice? Wittgenstein v Heraclitus – by David Egan
Philosophy Now
- Philosophy’s Roots and Branches – article by Will Bouwman
Podcasts
This section features podcast episodes from leading philosophy podcasts. These are also aimed at a general audience and are a good option for beginners who prefer audio content.
The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
- Everything is Full of Gods: Thales
- Infinity and Beyond: Anaximander and Anaximenes
- Created In Our Image: Xenophanes Against Greek Religion
- The Man With The Golden Thigh: Pythagoras
- Old Man River: Heraclitus
- MM McCabe on Heraclitus
- The Road Less Traveled: Parmenides
- You Can’t Get There From Here: Zeno and Melissus
- The Final Cut: Democritus and Leucippus
- Mind Over Mixture: Anaxagoras
- All You Need is Love, and Five Other Things: Empedocles
- Malcolm Schofield on the Presocratics
- Good Humor Men: the Hippocratics
- Making the Weaker Argument the Stronger: the Sophists
Philosophy Bites
In Our Time
The Partially Examined Life
Short Videos (<30 mins)
This section features short videos aimed at beginners.
Academy of Ideas
- Introduction to the Presocratics
- Introduction to Thales, Anaximenes, and Anaximander
- Introduction to Heraclitus
- Introduction to Parmenides
- Introduction to Empedocles
- Introduction to Anaxagoras
- Introduction to Democritus
Misc
Lectures/Longer Videos (>30 mins)
This section features longer videos and lectures.
Course Syllabi
See this page for course syllabi on the Presocratics.
Books
See this list of the best books on the Presocratics.
Quotes
See this page for a selection of key quotes by the Presocratics.
The Daily Idea aims to make learning about philosophy as easy as possible by bringing together the best philosophy resources from across the internet. To get started, check out this organized collection of 400+ articles, podcasts, and videos on a wide range of philosophical topics.
A Collection of the Greatest Philosophical Quotations
