No knowledge of Heraclitus:

If you do not know who Heraclitus is, or have only learned about him in a survey of ancient philosophy course, I would suggest the following:
1.  Read the "Introduction to Heraclitus," which can be accessed from the main page.
2.  Get a copy of Barnes' Early Greek Philosophy, and read the chapter on Heraclitus.  If you can't find this book, then find some book which has all the fragments with a little commentary.
3.  Work through each of the categories, top to bottom, accessible from the "To the Fragments" page, "By Categories" link.  Read the questions first, then the summary, and then read all the fragments under that category.  After finishing the category, do the same for the second one ... all the way through all the fragments.

Little knowledge of Heraclitus, one or two lectures in a survey course:

1.  Get a copy of Barnes' Early Greek Philosophy, and read the chapter on Heraclitus.  If you can't find this book, then find some book which has all the fragments with some commentary.
2.  Work through all of the categories, starting with the ones that you find most interesting or wanted to pursue further.  These are accessible from the "To the Fragments" page, "By Categories" link.  Read the questions first, and then all the fragments under that category.  Then read the summary under that category.  After finishing the category, do the same for the another one ... all the way through all the fragments.

Some previous knowledge, having read and discussed the fragments:

1.  Read through the English translations in DK number order.  These are accessbile from the "To the Fragments" page, "By DK Number" link.  Look at the category links for each framgent, and pursue any category you find interesting.  Read the summaries and even click the links to other fragments.  Work this way through all the fragments in order.
2.  Then read through the fragments again with their text notes.  These are accessible from the "To the Fragments" page, "English Translation with Text Notes" link.

Little knowledge of Heraclitus, one or two lectures in a survey course:

1.  Get a copy of Barnes' Early Greek Philosophy, and read the chapter on Heraclitus.  If you can't find this book, then find some book which has all the fragments with some commentary.
2.  Work through all of the categories, starting with the ones that you find most interesting or wanted to pursue further.  These are accessible from the "To the Fragments" page, "By Categories" link.  Read the questions first, and then all the fragments under that category.  Then read the summary under that category.  After finishing the category, do the same for the another one ... all the way through all the fragments.
3.  The read through the Greek Texts of the fragments in DK number order.  These are accessible from the "To the Fragments" page, "Greek Texts and English Translation" link.  If your Greek is good, then slide the middle bar down and only check the English translations when you need to.  In this way, read through all the fragments.
 

Some previous knowledge, having read and discussed the fragments:

1.  Read through the Greek texts in DK number order.  These are accessbile from the "To the Fragments" page, "By DK Number" link.  (Consult the English translation if you need to.)  Look at the category links for each framgent, and pursue any category you find interesting.  Read the summaries and even click the links to other fragments.  Work this way through all the fragments in order.
2.  Read through the Text Notes, either using the "Greek Texts with Text Notes" link or the "Englsih translations with Text Notes," depending on your level of Greek.  (Both are accessible from the "To the Fragments" page.)

Home | Site Tour | Top