Books by Francis Macdonald Cornford

From Religion to Philosophy: A Study in the Origins of Western Speculation was written by one of the experts on Greek philosophers and religion, F.W. Cornford. In this classic work, Cornford traces the Western roots of religion and science, pondering common philosophical questions along the way, such as the existence of God, Greek mythology, the soul and immortality, nature and the metaphysical. Many would consider this work one of the most important on philosophy ever written, and just as viable today as when it was published in 1912.Francis Macdonald Cornford was an English philosophy student and teacher at Trinity College in Cambridge, where he was a Fellow and received awards for his excellence in teaching. He was especially interested in Greek religion and philosophy; two of his four works focus on the subject.

Originally published in 1931, this volume contains the text of an inaugural lecture by Francis Cornford upon his accession to the Laurence Professorship of Ancient Philosophy in the University of Cambridge. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in ancient philosophy or the history and philosophy of science.

This book was originally published in 1934. Beginning with Aristotle's observation that from the earliest stage Attic Comedy had 'certain definite forms', F. M. Cornford shows that these forms are clearly observable in the plays of Aristophanes and that they derived from a ritual drama common to both tragedy and comedy.

Shows that the remarkable burst of abstract speculation among pre-Socratic thinkers of the sixth century BC emerged directly from the religious thought of the preceding era in Greece. This book provides connections between critical scientific thought and social and emotional experience.