The Origins of Materialism: The evolution of a scientific view of the world

The rise of a scientific world outlook in ancient Greece, and the development of agriculture, manufacturing, and trade that prepared its way.

“An honest attempt to retrace the earliest developments of the materialist world outlook. Simple and clearly written.”—Choice

“Written by a man who understands and believes in the spirit of his subject.”—International Bibliography of Philosophy

Novack views “ancient materialism against the broad background of the growth of civilized thought …. Of course he stresses social and economic conditions, but is not narrowly doctrinaire; he can pay tribute to the positive contributions of the great leaders of ancient idealism and defend them against the attacks of ‘narrow minded Marxists.’”—The Classical World