Genius of the Ancient World

How could a prince born into privilege give up everything and reject hierarchies? How could a family man leave his wife and child on a quest for the solution to human suffering? Historian Bettany Hughes uncovers the roots of the Buddha’s ideas of self-improvement and interconnectedness. It’s a fascinating tale of how one wanderer created a revolution in thinking that is still as radical as ever.

Unlike pre-Socratic thinkers who studied the cosmos, Socrates turned philosophical thinking inward to study human purpose and ethics. Embracing the new principals of democracy flourishing in ancient Greece, Socrates asserted knowledge could only come from dialogue.

Born into one of the most advanced societies in the world, Confucius became entranced by ancient Chinese ritual at an early age. Looking to the past to solve the problems of the present, Confucius promoted etiquette, order, and the importance of family.