Plato's Progeny

How Plato and Socrates Still Captivate the Modern Mind

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Ancient, Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism
Cover of the book Plato's Progeny by Melissa Lane, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Melissa Lane ISBN: 9781472502308
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: March 2, 2015
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic Language: English
Author: Melissa Lane
ISBN: 9781472502308
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: March 2, 2015
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Language: English

Socrates wrote nothing; Plato's accounts of Socrates helped to establish western politics, ethics, and metaphysics. Both have played crucial and dramatically changing roles in western culture. In the last two centuries, the triumph of democracy has led many to side with the Athenians against a Socrates whom they were right to kill. Meanwhile the Cold War gave us polar images of Plato as both a dangerous totalitarian and an escapist intellectual. And visions of Plato have proliferated at the heart of postmodern critiques of the very idea of metaphysics and politics.

Plato's Progeny begins with an account of modern responses to the trial of Socrates and the controversial question of Socrates' relation to Plato. At its centre are two chapters exploring the idea of Platonic origins in and for philosophy, and of Platonic foundations for philosophical politics. Exploring unfamiliar as well as familiar invocations of Plato, Melissa Lane argues that twentieth-century ideological battles have obscured the importance of Socratic individualism, the nature of Platonic ethics, and the value of Platonic politics. Succinct and clearly written, this is an ideal guide for everyone interested in the way philosophers are still writing footnotes to Plato.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Socrates wrote nothing; Plato's accounts of Socrates helped to establish western politics, ethics, and metaphysics. Both have played crucial and dramatically changing roles in western culture. In the last two centuries, the triumph of democracy has led many to side with the Athenians against a Socrates whom they were right to kill. Meanwhile the Cold War gave us polar images of Plato as both a dangerous totalitarian and an escapist intellectual. And visions of Plato have proliferated at the heart of postmodern critiques of the very idea of metaphysics and politics.

Plato's Progeny begins with an account of modern responses to the trial of Socrates and the controversial question of Socrates' relation to Plato. At its centre are two chapters exploring the idea of Platonic origins in and for philosophy, and of Platonic foundations for philosophical politics. Exploring unfamiliar as well as familiar invocations of Plato, Melissa Lane argues that twentieth-century ideological battles have obscured the importance of Socratic individualism, the nature of Platonic ethics, and the value of Platonic politics. Succinct and clearly written, this is an ideal guide for everyone interested in the way philosophers are still writing footnotes to Plato.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book Place, Belonging and School Leadership by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Buckley by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book The Fatal Gift by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book US Combat Shotguns by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Finding the Space to Lead by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Palestinian Refugees and Identity by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Milton by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Art Beyond Representation by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book My First Book of Christmas by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Resurrection: A Guide for the Perplexed by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Corpus Linguistics and Linguistically Annotated Corpora by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Reading Apollinaire's Calligrammes by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book The Street-Law Handbook by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book The Jacobite Rebellion 1745–46 by Melissa Lane
Cover of the book Evidential Reasoning in Archaeology by Melissa Lane
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy