In this engaging dialogue that moves effortlessly across interdisciplinary boundaries, Richard Sorabji expounds, with astounding clarity and candidness, on a broad range of issues such as the moral philosophy behind the concepts of just war and âhumanitarian interventionâ, whether it is possible to be a Stoic today, and whether there is such a thing as a continuous self. He surveys the four leading ancient schools of philosophical thoughtâAristotelian, Stoic, Platonist (including Neoplatonist), and Epicureanâand analyses the differences in their approach to various subjects. Talking Philosophy is as much a recollection of Sorabjiâs childhood and his scholarly life at Oxford as it is a philosophical reflection on issues as varied and complex as whether animals have reason or whether Gandhi could be considered an ethical role model. The seventh book in the series of Ramin Jahanbeglooâs interviews of prominent intellectuals, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the life and mind of one of the most outstanding comparative philosophers of our time.Table of Contents: An Examined Self: The Grace of Moral Consciousness Part I A BRITISH INDIAN Childhood at Oxford Remembering Cornelia Sorabji Gandhi and the Parsees A Christian Education Becoming British An Imagined India The Dragon School at Oxford Memories of the Second World War Studying at Charterhouse Cricket and the Indian-ness Practising Russian The Oxford Years Living in America Back to England Return to Oxford The Paradoxical India A Typical British Scholarly Life Part II GANDHI AND ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY Gandhi and Eastern Philosophy Gandhi the Role Model The Gandhian Body Politic Gandhi as a Philosopher Erôs, Philia, and Agapê Self-Purification of the Nation and Salvation of the Soul Gandhi and the Stoics Gandhi and Brahmacharya Part III TIME, SELF, FREEDOM, AND DEATH Is There a Self? The Self and the Stoics The Stoics and the Indians Death and Reincarnation The Disembodied Self The Necessity and the Cause What Is Time? Time and Consolation Death and Will to Life: East and West Thinking the Universe Part IV READING ANCIENT GREEKS TODAY Starting with Aristotle The Concept of Memory Sense Perception in Greek Philosophy Return to the Stoics Living with Excellence Being a Stoic Today Ashoka and Marcus Aurelius Aristotle on Self-Awareness Sharing Knowledge with Oneself Part V WAR AND ETHICS Going to War Patriotism and War Western Tradition of Ethics of War Authority and War The Stoics and War Humanitarian Intervention in Ancient Times The Concept of Just War Moderation and Peace Part VI ANIMALS AND HUMANS Animal Minds and Human Morals Animals and Moral Philosophy Gandhi and Animals The Masters and Possessors of Nature Animals in the Indian Tradition The Stoics and Animals Is Cannibalism a Moral Attitude? Philosophers and the Support for Animals Part VII LOOKING BACK Reminiscing An Intercultural Philosopher Being Reborn and Choices in Life About the Author