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- Thom Brooks (2006). Knowledge and Power in Plato's Political Thought. International Journal of Philosophical Studies 14 (1):51 – 77.Plato justifies the concentration and exercise of power for persons endowed with expertise in political governance. This article argues that this justification takes two distinctly different sets of arguments. The first is what I shall call his 'ideal political philosophy' described primarily in the Republic as rule by philosopher-kings wielding absolute authority over their subjects. Their authority stems solely from their comprehension of justice, from which they make political judgements on behalf of their city-state. I call the second set of arguments Plato's 'practical political philosophy' underlying his later thought, where absolute rule by philosopher-kings is undermined by the impure character of all political knowledge. Whereas the complete comprehension of justice sanctions the absolute political power of those with this expertise, partial knowledge of justice disallows for such a large investment of power. Plato's practical political philosophy argues for a mixed theory of governance fusing the institutions of monarchy with democracy in the best practical city-state. Thus, Plato comes to realize the insurmountable difficulties of his ideal political thought, preferring a more practical political philosophy instead.Reading list | Discuss | Edit | Categorize |My bibliography
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Political legitimacy is a virtue of political institutions and of the decisions—about laws, policies, and candidates for political office—made within them. This entry will survey the main answers that have been given to the following questions. First, how should legitimacy be defined? Is it primarily a descriptive or a normative concept? If legitimacy is understood normatively, what does it entail? Some associate legitimacy with the justification of coercive power and with the creation of political authority. Others associate it with the justification, or at least the sanctioning, of existing political authority. Authority stands for a right to rule—a right to issue commands and, possibly, to enforce these commands using coercive power. An additional question is whether legitimate political authority is understood to entail political obligations or not. Most people probably think it does. But some think that the moral obligation to obey political authority can be separated from an account of legitimate authority, or at least that such obligations arise only if further conditions hold.
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| | Scholar | At my library | More options ... This book examines the role of the female and the feminine in Plato's philosophy, and suggests that Plato's views on women are central to his political philosophy. Morag Buchan explores Plato's writings to argue his notions of the inferior female and the superior male. While Plato appears to allow women equal opportunity and participation of political life in the Ideal State in The Republic , his motivation rests on masculine ideals. Women in Plato's Political Theory examines issues including women's relationship to men, to reproduction, to rational thought and politics in Plato's work, and addresses more generally the problem of sexual identity in philosophy. This book is an important contribution toward a wider interpretation of Platonic philosophy.
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| | Scholar | At my library | More options ... One of the greatest works of philosophy, political theory, and literature ever produced, Plato's Republic has shaped Western thought for thousands of years and ...
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| | Scholar | At my library | More options ... One of the greatest works of philosophy, political theory, and literature ever produced, Plato's Republic has shaped Western thought for thousands of years and ...
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| | Scholar | At my library | More options ... One of the greatest works of philosophy, political theory, and literature ever produced, Plato's Republic has shaped Western thought for thousands of years and ...
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| | Scholar | At my library | More options ... One of the greatest works of philosophy, political theory, and literature ever produced, Plato's Republic has shaped Western thought for thousands of years and remains as relevant today as when it was written during the fourth century B.C. ...
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| Discuss | Edit | Categorize | My bibliography | Export citation | Other links: 4literature.net classics.mit.edu fordham.edu | Scholar | At my library | More options ...
| | Other links: 4literature.net classics.mit.edu fordham.edu | Scholar | At my library | More options ... This paper aims to present Plato’s political philosophy by focusing on his theoretical building of the Ideal State, presented in The Republic. The first three parts of the present paper corresponds to the three main points underlined after The Republic’s analyse. Through stressing, first, the depicting of the philosopher’s portrait, second the analyses of structure of the Ideal State, third the focus on the causes of the degeneration of this state, these points contribute to the sustaining of the philosopher’s promotion, in order to raise a political state lambda at the level of an Ideal State. Concerning the last raised point, it has as role to evince the tangible consequences inducted by the construction of the Ideal State.
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| | Other links: ceeol.com | Scholar | At my library | More options ... Among Plato's works, the Statesman is usually seen as transitional between the Republic and the Laws. This book argues that the dialogue deserves a special place of its own. Whereas Plato is usually thought of as defending unchanging knowledge, Dr Lane demonstrates for the first time how, by placing change at the heart of political affairs, Plato reconceives the link between knowledge and authority. The statesman is shown to master the timing of affairs of state, and to use this expertise in managing the conflict of opposed civic factions. To this political argument corresponds a methodological approach which is seen to rely not only on the familiar method of 'division', but equally on the unfamiliar centrality of the use of 'example'. The demonstration that method and politics are interrelated transforms our understanding of the Statesman and its fellow dialogues.
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| | Scholar | At my library | More options ... The Statesman is Plato's neglected political work, but it is crucial for an understanding of the development of his political thinking. In its presentation of the statesman's expertise, The Statesman modifies, as well as defending in original ways, this central theme of the Republic. This new translation makes the dialogue accessible to students of political thought and the introduction outlines the philosophical and historical background necessary for a political theory readership.
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| Discuss | Edit | Categorize | My bibliography | Export citation | Other links: 4literature.net classics.mit.edu etext.library.adelaide.edu.au graduate.gradsch.uga.edu | Scholar | More options ...
| | Other links: 4literature.net classics.mit.edu etext.library.adelaide.edu.au graduate.gradsch.uga.edu | Scholar | More options ... A lively dialogue between a foreign philosopher and a powerful statesman, Plato's Laws reflects the essence of the philosopher's reasoning on political theory and practice. It also embodies his mature and more practical ideas about a utopian republic. Plato's discourse ranges from everyday issues of criminal and matrimonial law to wider considerations involving the existence of the gods, the nature of the soul, and the problem of evil. Translated by the distinguished scholar Benjamin Jowett, this edition is an authoritative choice for students of philosophy, political science, and literature.
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| Discuss | Edit | Categorize | My bibliography | Export citation | Other links: gutenberg.org 4literature.net classics.mit.edu etext.library.adelaide.edu.au graduate.gradsch.uga.edu | Scholar | At my library | More options ...
| | Other links: gutenberg.org 4literature.net classics.mit.edu etext.library.adelaide.edu.au graduate.gradsch.uga.edu | Scholar | At my library | More options ... Discussion of Thom Brooks, Knowledge and power in Plato's political thought
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