Ptolemy's Philosophy: Mathematics as a Way of Life

"Feke’s book deserves a place on the shelves of historians of science, philosophers, and classicists alike."—Marco Romani Mistretta, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"This important study will significantly improve our historical understanding of the originality of Ptolemy’s position."—Alain Bernard, Journal of the History of Astronomy

"The book can be accessed and appreciated with a little sustained effort. For those of us who practice the history of mathematics, Feke’s work is a nice illustration that our historical actors’ philosophical commitments often can be identified, and they can help us to focus our readings more precisely. It’s a good lesson, and well worth the endeavour."—Glen Van Brummelen, British Journal for the History of Mathematics

“Feke offers a wide-ranging analysis of Ptolemy’s entire philosophy—not only his philosophy of science but also his theory of the soul, the many applications of the doctrine of harmony, and his attempts to give his ethical theory a central place in the whole. It is a significant contribution.”—James Evans, author of The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy

“This book provides the first systematic treatment of Ptolemy’s philosophy, shedding light on an aspect of his thought that until now has received very little attention. Feke makes the original and historically important argument that Ptolemy ascribed to mathematics the same role that philosophy had in the Hellenistic era—to show the way to the good life.”—Orna Harari, Tel Aviv University