The editors of the Traditio Praesocratica series have set themselves the goal of presenting the traditional knowledge of the so-called pre-Socratic philosophers as completely as possible in text and translation. The reception-historical perspective of the endeavour explains the chronological arrangement of the testimonies - in comparison to most other existing collections on the pre-Socratics - in their respective transmission context.
In the fourth volume of the series (after Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes as well as Xenophanes) the Greek, Latin and Arabic surviving testimonies from the fourth century BC to the end of the Middle Ages on the life and teachings of the three western Greek philosophers Alcmaion, Hippon and Menestor are reproduced in chronological order and with a German translation. While Alkmaion of Kroton attracted attention in the subsequent history of reception primarily due to his theories on the physiology of the senses, possibly based on empirical evidence, Hippon (of Metapont?) repeatedly attracted the interest of later authors due to his epithet 'the godless'. Menestor of Sybaris, on the other hand, is known almost exclusively from Theophrastus' botanical works, who saw in him an occasionally quotable predecessor of his own corresponding research. All testimonies (Alkmaion about 100, Hippon about 90, Menestor about 5) are provided with brief contextual information on the respective author and the work in which the testimony is found. In addition, the testimonies are accompanied by thematically orientated 'similes', which are intended to provide a better orientation of the transmission and reception contexts. Detailed indices conclude the volume.
The study of pre-Socratic philosophy is thus provided with a further basic volume that enables a comprehensive view not only with regard to the reconstruction of the life and teachings of the thinkers in question, but also and above all with regard to their reception.