Did Jesus Invent Modern Morality? Exploring Ancient Ethics

This comprehensive edition gathers all poems Seamus Heaney published in his lifetime across twelve volumes, plus uncollected and posthumously published works, with detailed commentaries on publication history, influences, and context. It showcases Heaney's unique voice—mythological yet journalistic, rural yet sophisticated—tracing the full arc of the Nobel laureate's brilliant career. Excluding translations, the 1296-page tome preserves his original publications and revisions, offering insights into themes of history, nature, love, and Irish life.

Written in the early 50s BC, *On the Nature of Things* is a six-book poem that delves into the principles of Epicurean philosophy. It explores the atomic system, the nature of the mind and spirit, sensation and thought, and various celestial and terrestrial phenomena. The poem aims to show that everything in nature can be explained by natural laws without divine intervention, thereby promoting a life of tranquility and happiness. Lucretius argues against the fear of death and the gods, emphasizing that the universe operates according to physical principles guided by chance rather than divine will.

The Aeneid, written by Virgil between 29 and 19 BC, is a monumental work of classical literature. It follows the journey of Aeneas, a Trojan hero, as he navigates from the ruins of Troy to Italy, where he is destined to found the city of Lavinium, a precursor to Rome. The poem is divided into 12 books, with the first six detailing Aeneas' wanderings and the second six describing the war in Italy against the Latins. The epic incorporates various legends and mythological elements, glorifying traditional Roman virtues and legitimizing the Julio-Claudian dynasty. It explores themes such as duty, fate, and the relationship between the individual and society, and has had a profound influence on Western literature.

The Nicomachean Ethics is Aristotle's most renowned work on ethics, focusing on the science of the good for human life. The text is divided into ten books and discusses the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as 'happiness' or 'flourishing,' which is achieved through living a virtuous life. Aristotle argues that eudaimonia is an activity of the soul in accordance with virtue, emphasizing the importance of reason, moral virtues, and the pursuit of excellence. The work also explores the division of the soul, the role of rationality in human life, and the ultimate goal of human activity, which is to achieve happiness through virtuous actions and a complete life.

Published in 1878, 'Anna Karenina' is a novel by Leo Tolstoy that delves into the complexities of Russian society in the late 19th century. The story centers around the extramarital affair between Anna Karenina, a married socialite, and Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, which scandalizes the social circles of Saint Petersburg. The novel also follows the parallel story of Konstantin Levin, a wealthy landowner, and his struggles with marriage, faith, and managing his estate. Tolstoy explores a wide range of themes including love, loyalty, betrayal, hypocrisy, and the differences between rural and urban life. The novel is known for its detailed character development and its profound commentary on the human condition.