Plato

The two giants of ancient Greek philosophy, Plato and Aristotle, have traditionally been contrasted as "idealism vs realism." This paper offers a deeper reinterpretation of this contrast. We hypothesize that the directions each philosopher aimed for were, in fact, reversed in the way they were eventually realized through the course of history. Plato, who was oriented towards a transcendentalist structure, surprisingly derived a discipline (i.e. quantum language) that is more useful than modern statistics. Aristotle's empiricism, on the other hand, developed (...) into the causal determinism of Newtonian mechanics. Who would have expected the former to grow into an earthly discipline and the latter into a heavenly one? Who is greater, Plato or Aristotle? (shrink)

v. 1. The apology & other dialogues.--v. 2. The symposium & other dialogues.--v. 3. Timaeus & other dialogues.--v. 4. The republic.

In addition to its interest as one of Plato's most brilliant dramatic masterpieces, the Protagoras presents a vivid picture of the crisis of fifth-century Greek thought, in which traditional values and conceptions of humanity were subjected to criticism of the Sophists and to the far more radical criticism of Socrates. The dialogue deals with many themes which are central to the ethical theories which Plato developed under the influence of Socrates, notably, the nature of human excellence, the relation of knowledge (...) to right conduct, and the place of pleasure in the good life. This revised edition includes a new preface and introduction, as well as numerous changes to the translation and commentary. (shrink)

Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, taught himself to read, as a teenager, by spending hours with Plato’s Republic and a dictionary. Later, he describes reading the cave allegory in Republic 7 as “a seminal experience” in his life, “for it had started me thinking and reading and trying to find a way to liberate Black people.” Last year, I decided to teach his book Revolutionary Suicide in my ancient philosophy class alongside Plato. A few (...) key considerations guided my work: I wanted to make sure that Newton and the Panthers were not reduced to Plato cheerleaders. I also needed to introduce the Black Panther Party and its complex histories without overwhelming the students. In terms of Plato, one goal of the class was to offer examples of what might arise as we viewed Republic 7 through this lens. Finally, since the Black Panther Party established many schools—often with inspiring results—I worked to both incorporate key elements of Black Panther pedagogy into my class and design assignments that might allow the students to feel challenged by and connected to these stories. (shrink)

In the Sophist Plato singles out Being (on, ousia) as just one among the Kinds or Forms. I argue that the exploration of one main implication of Plato’s isolation of a Kind Being enables us to question aspects of an entrenched scholarly consensus about Plato’s conception of being, namely that for Plato ‘to be is always to be something’. By scrutinizing various passages from the second half of the Sophist, starting from 250a8-d3, I defend the view that when Plato metaphysically (...) analyses ‘X is’ in terms of X’s participation in or combination with the Kind or Form of Being, he does not mean that X is something, or is itself, or is variously characterized (or similar), but that it exists. (shrink)

In this paper, I shall discuss the question whether a concrete object can be multi-located while it is moving or not. I shall say nothing on the vexed issue of multi-location in and for itself. Instead, my discussion will support a ‘might’-conditional claim: ‘if multi-location were possible, then change might imply multi-location’. To do this, after a very short clarification of the various meanings of ‘to be located’, I will first present and discuss Diodorus’ arguments against the reality of motion, (...) since they focus on the question of what the location of the moving item is, and then scrutinize Hegel’s reply to Diodorus Cronus’ reasonings, insofar as his answer consists in claiming that an object in motion is in many locations at once. Although many philosophers of the past are referred to, this paper does not aim to be a piece of scholarship, but to explore the various metaphysical possibilities concerning the logic of location underlying change. (shrink)

Plato's life and works -- The contexts for interpreting Plato's Dialogues -- Sources of perplexity : change -- A brief history of platonism and Plato interpretation -- Dialogue form -- Arguments and ideas, vision and doctrines -- Fables, myths, and stories -- Irony and other forms of humour -- Play and seriousness -- Paradox -- Plato's philosophy : permanence -- Platonic anonymity and the nature of Plato's philosophy -- Persistent themes and Plato's vision -- The platonic path to wisdom -- (...) Help in reading and understanding Plato's Dialogues and his philosophy -- How to read a platonic dialogue -- Summaries of the Dialogues. (shrink)

Celem tego artykułu jest przebadanie i objaśnienie platońskiego wpływu na rady Williama Oslera dla wszystkich lekarzy, które dotyczą ich autonomii, charakteru i stosunku do prawdy i fałszu w medycynie. W sugestiach „Ojca współczesnej medycyny” wprawne ucho może dosłyszeć echo niektórych opinii ucznia Sokratesa. Jego ideały i wartości powinny kształtować nie tylko lekarski etos, lecz i wiedzę o zasadach zdrowego życia i zwalczania choroby. Zwłaszcza dzisiaj to jest niesłychanie istotne w obliczu zagrożeń i nieszczęść, jakie stwarza farmakracja. -/- *** -/- Platonic (...) reminiscences in Osler’s advice about physicians’ autonomy, character and relation to truth and falsehood in medicine The aim of this article is to examine and explain Plato’s influence on William Osler’s advice to all physicians about their autonomy, character and relation to truth and falsehood in medicine. In the suggestions of “the Father of Modern Medicine” an experienced ear can detect an echo of certain opinions propagated by the pupil of Socrates. His ideals and values should shape not only the medical ethos, but also knowledge on the principles of a healthy life and overcoming disease. This is extremely important especially today, in the face of the threats represented – and the misfortunes caused – by pharmacracy. (shrink)

This paper criticises the two prominent interpretations of utopianism in Plato's Republic. The traditional argues that it is mere utopianism, seriously proposing that Kallipolis is, in fact, the ideal city. The ironic argues that the Republic is a critique of the ability for reason to reconstruct human nature and is, therefore, a dire warning against utopian thinking in politics. I oppose these two interpretations and instead argue that the Republic implies a paradoxical necessity in the nature of utopianism: The ideal (...) cannot be theorised without itself being conditioned by the politics of theorising, and yet the politics of theorising is immanently motivated by the ideal. I locate this seemingly antonymic dynamic within the education of the learner/citizen in the Republic. Although this is centred on the notion of self-governance, it cannot be imposed and instead depends on the philosophical development of one's soul that is inextricably linked to justice in the city. Therefore, the utopianism of the Republic ought to be thought of as dialectical, being simultaneously situated and yet normatively transcending. (shrink)

This Ph.D. thesis aims to provide a comprehensive account of the relationship between ethics and epistemology in Plato’s late dialogues (specifically, Sophist, Statesman, Philebus, and Laws). While scholars have been concerned with understanding the extent to which Plato’s middle dialogues resonate with his early theory of ethical intellectualism (according to which knowledge is a necessary and sufficient condition for virtue), Plato’s later moral epistemology has received much less attention. The few scholars who have worked on the subject have argued that (...) Plato’s late dialogues present a radical transformation of the epistemological and ethical ideas displayed in Plato’s earlier works. The scholarly debate has almost unanimously concluded that Plato’s late dialogues heavily revise the theory of ethical intellectualism that, arguably, features in the earlier works. Through an in-depth analysis of the late dialogues’ textual evidence, this thesis will show that the so-called Socratic theory of ethical intellectualism has not been abandoned by Plato in his late works. To this end, I will contend that the Sophist, the Statesman, the Philebus, and the Laws suggest that (philosophical) knowledge is the ultimate condition that a moral agent has to meet to be fully virtuous. In addition, taking for granted that philosophers alone can achieve a full and philosophical virtue, I will also show that Plato’s later moral epistemology extends beyond philosophers. For, while achieving philosophical knowledge is presented as a necessary and sufficient condition for being virtuous, I will argue that Plato’s late dialogues establish that opinion, if true, is sufficient for acting virtuously. (shrink)

Jakiej filozofii warto być wiernym, zwłaszcza w sofistopolis? Prolegomena do książki Seweryna Blandziego Między aletejologią Parmenidesa a ontoteologią Filona *** Artykuł unaocznia potrzebę wierności kilku ponadczasowym postulatom filozofii, które pobrzmiewają głośnym echem w książce Seweryna Blandziego Między aletejologią Parmenidesa a ontoteologią Filona. Służąc bezinteresownie prawdzie, rzetelny historyk filozofii musi – zarówno w samym sobie, jak i w kręgu osób sobie najbliższych – pielęgnować nie tylko dar uważnej obserwacji, bez którego nie nabywa nikt mądrości, lecz i cnotę męstwa, bez którego ani (...) w czynie, ani w słowie nie znajduje mądrość odzwierciedlenia. Słynne pytanie Leopolda von Rankego: Wie es eigentlich gewesen? powinien każdy współczesny badacz historii filozofii rozszerzyć: (1) jako filolog – do postaci: Wie es eigentlich geschrieben ist?; (2) jako filozof – do problemu: Wie es eigentlich gemeint ist? Jak długo historia filozofii będzie się wyrzekać ambicji ustalania jasnych i jednoznacznych odpowiedzi na pytania tego rodzaju, tak długo nie wydźwignie się z kryzysu, w jaki popadła zakwestionowawszy wartość i status prawdy. *** What kind of philosophy is deserving of our loyalty – especially in the sophistopolis? Prolegomena to Seweryn Blandzi’s book Between Parmenides’ Aletheiology and Philo’s of Alexandria Ontotheology The article reveals that one must be faithful to several timeless demands of philosophy, demands that resound loudly in Seweryn Blandzi’s book Between Parmenides’ Aletheiology and Philo’s of Alexandria Ontotheology. Serving the truth selflessly, a reliable historian of philosophy ought – both in himself and in the circle of his intimates – cultivate not only the gift of careful observation, without which nobody acquires wisdom, but also the virtue of courage, without which wisdom will not be expressed in deed or in word. Every modern researcher of the history of philosophy should broaden the famous question of Leopold von Ranke: Wie es eigentlich gewesen?: (1) as a philologist – to the form: Wie es eigentlich geschrieben ist?; (2) as a philosopher – to the problem: Wie es eigentlich gemeint ist? As long as the history of philosophy abdicates from providing clear and unambiguous answers to questions of this kind, it will not overcome the crisis it suffered after questioning the value and status of truth. (shrink)

It is commonly thought that a central lesson of Republic i is to indicate the flaws of the τέχνη model for thinking about justice and ruling. I provide a novel defense of Socrates’ arguments from τέχνη. I argue that (i) book 1 is less hostile to the τέχνη model than is often supposed and that (ii) Socrates’ arguments from τέχνη are more favorable than they are often supposed.

This book mainly delves into the practical moral poetics in Plato's late masterpiece, the Laws, and applies a comparative approach to Plato's philosophizing and the Chinese way of thinking in the domains of art making, cultivating a good life, and music-poetry education. Plato's main concern is psychic and correct education as the foundation of character building, coupled with the development of ideal guardians or perfect citizens. Such education requires a suitable use of allegories, myths, and poems, because it involves not (...) only youngsters but also non-philosophers. Saturated with poetic wisdom, it enhances philosophical learning and human becoming in effect, and sheds light on how to live a worthwhile life in praxis. What is discussed herein will interest students and scholars of ancient Greek philosophy, classical studies, art theory, Chinese thought and poetry education, among others. (shrink)

What do we mean when we say that something has power? Plato's dialogues are probably the first philosophical corpus to address this question. Powers are causes; they account for how events happen. They are properties that agents have, as well as dispositions in those who suffer the effects of an action. This explanation is the basis of Plato's metaphysics and moral philosophy. He proposed that things are the power they have to act or be acted upon; this is their nature. (...) This book brings together a group of specialists to guide the reader through this fascinating theory. (shrink)

Se argumenta que el inmoralismo que confronta Platón en República I y II, lejos de presentar un solo desafío, tiene en realidad cuatro niveles de exigencia progresiva. Esta estructura escalonada del desafío inmoralista pone de manifiesto el hecho de que el desafío oficial, formulado por Adamanto en República II, corresponde a una peculiar interpretación que Platón hace del inmoralismo. Esto se debe a que los dos primeros niveles del desafío no introducen la novedosa posibilidad de suplantación de la realidad moral (...) por la reputación moral, característica de la interpretación platónica. Se argumenta también que la interpretación platónica acarrea ciertos problemas, y para los cuales se ofrecen soluciones tentativas. Entre estos problemas destaca la famosa objeción según la cual la noción de justicia como armonía síquica que Platón propone como respuesta, en República IV, parece cambiar de tema. Se argumenta, finalmente, que la estructura escalonada del desafío inmoralista permite hacer frente a esta objeción, pues sus últimos dos niveles ya determinan la forma que deberá tomar la respuesta ofrecida en República IV. (shrink)

Taking the form of dialogues between Socrates, Timaeus, Critias and Hermocrates, these two works are among Plato's final writings. In Timaeus, he gives a thorough account of the world in which we live, describing a cosmos composed of four elements - earth, air, fire and water - which combine to give existence to all things. An exploration of the origins of the universe, life and humanity, which outlines not just physical laws but also metaphysical and religious principles, it remained a (...) paradigm of science for two thousand years. The mysterious preamble to Timaeus contains the first account in literature of Atlantis, while the fragmentary Critias, unfinished by its author, provides a spellbinding description of the lost continent's ideal society, which Critias asserts was created by the god-like children of Poseidon himself. (shrink)

This treatise introduces a transformative socio-political paradigm that merges empathy, philosophy, ethics, science, equality, and the refinement of excellence to address the novel challenges of the 21st century and beyond. By combining ethical bio-genetic enhancement, empathetic governance, and the cautious reconstruction of socio-political structures, it envisions a society capable of achieving unprecedented precision, efficiency, and unity in governance. This interdisciplinary framework integrates modern science, classical philosophy, and historical lessons to propose a genetically optimized, rigorously educated, and ethically inclined sub-population, the (...) “Electi.” Designed to embody human refinement and empathy, the Electi are uniquely qualified to navigate the ethical, technological, environmental, and scientific challenges of the modern era. Building on the works of Aristotle and Plato while incorporating contemporary concepts like Polygenic Scores, artificial intelligence, and psychometrics, the treatise provides a balanced model that addresses democracy’s inefficiencies without sacrificing equality or representation. Ethical safeguards and public engagement strategies are woven into the paradigm to counter fears of elitism and inequality. This model aims to accelerate societal advancement, improve policy-making efficiency, and respond proactively to crises such as climate change and AI threats. By harmonizing ethical considerations with practical governance, the treatise offers an innovative framework for academics, philosophers, and policymakers to reimagine the future of human progress and governance. (shrink)

Nella «Metafisica» Aristotele fonda una scienza filosofica a cui assegna il compito di occuparsi dell’«essere in quanto essere», indagandone le cause e i principi primi. Egli denomina questa scienza «filosofia prima» e la eleva a forma massima di sapere. La filosofia prima è abitualmente riconosciuta come il punto di partenza per la formazione della disciplina filosofica che, a partire dalla prima età moderna, chiamiamo ontologia. Nel delinearne la fisionomia teorica e lo statuto, tuttavia, Aristotele si confronta da vicino con un (...) altro autorevole modello di scienza suprema, avente anch’essa l’essere per oggetto proprio: la dialettica platonica. Scopo di questo libro è esplorare il retroterra platonico della progettazione aristotelica della filosofia prima e mostrare, attraverso dettagliate ricostruzioni testuali, che Aristotele ha elaborato questa scienza come un’alternativa alla dialettica platonica. (shrink)

Powerviolence is a subgenre of hardcore music characterized by fast-paced rhythms, chaotic sound, and austere esthetics. Despite its seminal function for extreme music, there has been a notable lack of scholarly exploration into the genre. In this paper I draw on Comparative Philosophy to fill this gap. I argue that the powerviolence music and lyrics are fueled by anger. In Plato, anger serves as a tool for the irascible soul to support rational thinking and oppose injustice. Accordingly, I call for (...) a Platonic interpretation of powerviolence as an incentive for moral reformation in a world rife with violence and immorality. (shrink)

I argue that part of Plato's strategy to neutralize the paradox of falsehood is to pin down various referents of the name 'being', τὸ ὄν. I focus on four and track their role in the dialogue's argument. They are: (1) any primary being; (2) the Kind Being; (3) any participant in the Kind Being; (4) a set of participants in the Kind Being.

Taking the form of a dialogue between Socrates, Gorgias, Polus and Callicles, GORGIAS debates perennial questions about the nature of government and those who aspire to public office. Are high moral standards essential or should we give our preference to the pragmatist who gets things done or negotiates successfully? Should individuals be motivated by a desire for personal power and prestige, or genuine concern for the moral betterment of the citizens? These questions go to the heart of Athenian democratic principles (...) and are more relevant than ever in today's political climate. (shrink)

The aim of this article is to set forth conjectures that are likely to explain the inclusion of Plato and Hermes as heralds of Mani in the testimony of Ephrem of Syria. This incorporation should be set against the background of the Syrian religious milieu, which was influenced by both Hellenistic philosophy and Eastern religious traditions. Therefore, it would be better to seek a religious and philosophical environment wherein Plato and Hermes were associated. Keywords: Manichaeism, apocalypticism, theurgy, hermetism, Merkabah mysticism, (...) late platonism. (shrink)

This article discusses the Platonic and Early Academic background of Aristotle’s Categories. Plato’s dialogues and the extant fragments of the Early Academics contain concepts, terms, and problems also prominently featured in the Categories. In this work, however, Aristotle rethinks them entirely, thereby drawing conclusions which often contrast with the views of Plato and the Early Academics. The article is divided into four sections. The first makes some general remarks on Aristotle’s relationship to Plato and the Early Academy. The second focuses (...) on Categories 1–3 and mainly deals with the Platonic-Academic background of the so-called ‘onymies’ (‘homonymy’, ‘synonymy’, and ‘paronymy’), the notion of ‘combination’ (symplokē), and those of ‘being-said-of a subject’ and ‘being-in a subject’. The third section is concerned with Categories 4–9 and focuses on the Platonic-Academic background of the ten categories, both as a unitary list and individually, with special emphasis on substance (ousia) and its priority. Finally, the fourth section tackles some of the Postpraedicamenta (chs. 10–5) and centres around the Platonic-Academic background of the notions of opposition and contrariety. (shrink)

Both an ideal entrée for beginning readers and a solid text for scholars, the second edition of Peter Kalkavage's acclaimed translation of Plato's Timaeus brings enhanced accessibility to a rendering well known for its faithfulness to the original text. An extensive essay offers insights into the reading of the work, the nature of Platonic dialogue, and the cultural background of the Timaeus. Appendices on music, astronomy, and geometry provide additional guidance. A brief outline of the themes of the work, a (...) detailed glossary, and a selected bibliography are also included. (shrink)

Platon, dans l'Ion, met en scène la rencontre entre Socrate et un rhapsode couronné de succès pour ses récitations d'Homère. Naît alors l'enquête platonicienne comme une philosophie des pratiques dont la méthode consiste à proposer à un praticien différentes représentations de son activité afin d'établir la forme de savoir qu'elle suppose. Même si Ion échoue à se reconnaître tout à fait dans chacun des miroirs qui lui sont tendus, le dialogue nous offre, en même temps que de précieuses informations sur (...) la façon dont on percevait l'art du rhapsode au début du IVe siècle avant J.-C., une exploration des principes fondamentaux qui doivent régir tout art et toute science, et que Platon ne cessera d'interroger. Le présent volume propose une édition et une traduction inédites du texte grec de l'Ion, accompagnées d'un commentaire linéaire et de notes critiques. (shrink)

"Being and Logos" is... a philosophical adventure of rare inspiration.... Its power to illuminate the text..., its ecumenicity of inspiration, its methodological rigor, its originality, and its philosophical profundity--all together make it one of the few philosophical interpretations that the philosopher will want to re-read along with the dialogues themselves. A superadded gift is the author's prose, which is a model of lucidity and grace." --International Philosophical Quarterly "Being and Logos is highly recommended for those who wish to learn how (...) a thoughtful scholar approaches Platonic dialogues as well as for those who wish to consider a serious discussion of some basic themes in the dialogues." --The Academic Reviewer. (shrink)

"Moore and Raymond's Charmides is very impressive. The translation is excellent, and the Introduction and notes guide the reader into thorny problems in a way that renders them understandable: e.g., how to translate sôphrosunê, why we should care about self-knowledge, or how to seek to clarify important ethico-political concepts. The result provides almost all of what an instructor will need to introduce this unjustly neglected dialogue into a syllabus. Moreover, the volume is a wide-ranging resource for specialists. Students of the (...) 'Socratic Dialogues' will profit greatly from this admirable contribution." --David J. Murphy is co-editor of Antiphontis et Andocidis Orationes (Oxford) and author of "The Basis of the Text of Plato's Charmides" (Mnemosyne) and many other contributions on the Charmides. He lives in New York City. (shrink)

Plato is the best known, and continues to be the most widely studied, of all the ancient Greek philosophers. The updated and original essays in the second edition of the Oxford Handbook of Plato provide in-depth discussions of a variety of topics and dialogues, all serving several functions at once: they survey the current academic landscape; express and develop the authors' own views; and situate those views within a range of alternatives. The result is a useful state-of-the-art reference to the (...) man many consider the most important philosophical thinker in history. This second edition of the Oxford Handbook of Plato differs in two main ways from the first edition. First, six leading scholars of ancient philosophy have contributed entirely new chapters: Hugh Benson on the Apology, Crito, and Euthyphro; James Warren on the Protagoras and Gorgias; Lindsay Judson on the Meno; Luca Castagnoli on the Phaedo; Susan Sauvé Meyer on the Laws; and David Sedley on Plato's theology. This new edition therefore covers both dialogues and topics in more depth than the first edition did. Secondly, most of the original chapters have been revised and updated, some in small, others in large, ways. (shrink)

This excellent work... deserves the serious consideration of all who are interested in contemporary philosophy as well as those who concern themselves with ancient philosophy, especially Plato." —Review of Metaphysics In Chorology, John Sallis takes up one of the most enigmatic discourses in the history of philosophy. Plato's discourse on the chora—the chorology—forms the pivotal moment in the Timaeus. The implications of the chorology are momentous and communicate with many of the most decisive issues in contemporary philosophical discussions.