"Cornford arrived at a picture of the origins of Greek philosophy which was historically superior to that which anyone else has so far reached." — The Classical Review. This exploration of early Western philosophy traces the religious roots of science and systematic speculation. Cornford, a distinguished historian of ancient philosophy, combines deep classical scholarship with anthropological and sociological insights to examine the mythic precursors of enduring metaphysical concepts — such as destiny, God, the soul, substance, nature, and immortality.