Abstract

This is the first of four projected volumes in this series that will concern themselves with philosophy. Perhaps before discussing the contents proper it would be best to say something about Aufsteig und Niedergang der Römischen Welt as a whole, since a philosophical audience may not yet have encountered it and its background is relevant to comments below. ANRW began some twenty years ago as a project to publish a collection of articles which would delineate the state of contemporary scholarship on various facets of the Roman period. Part 1 concerned the Roman Republic; it was a relatively modest four volumes with a mere 4,500 pages available for about DM 2,000. Fortunately, the quality of the scholarship was high; most contributors were the recognized experts in their respective fields. Part 2 concerns the Roman Empire. Publication is far from complete, but 62 massive volumes are projected. The cost of the volumes published so far is about DM 20,000. The contents of the second part range over all aspects of Roman history and culture, from Armenian history to New Testament studies.