Myth and Philosophy from the Presocratics to PlatoThis book explores the dynamic relationship between myth and philosophy in the Presocratics, the Sophists, and in Plato - a relationship which is found to be more extensive and programmatic than has been recognized. The story of philosophy's relationship with myth is that of its relationship with literary and social convention. The intellectuals studied here wanted to reformulate popular ideas about cultural authority and they achieved this goal by manipulating myth. Their self-conscious use of myth creates a self-reflective philosophic sensibility and draws attention to problems inherent in different modes of linguistic representation. Much of the reception of Greek philosophy stigmatizes myth as 'irrational'. Such an approach ignores the important role played by myth in Greek philosophy, not just as a foil but as a mode of philosophical thought. The case studies in this book reveal myth deployed as a result of methodological reflection, and as a manifestation of philosophical concerns. |
Contents
1 | |
CHAPTER 2 Theoretical issues | 15 |
CHAPTER 3 Some Presocratics | 46 |
CHAPTER 4 The sophists and their contemporaries | 89 |
Platonic myth in the making | 132 |
CHAPTER 6 The range of Platonic myth | 155 |
myth and the soul | 185 |
myth and theory | 242 |
CHAPTER 9 Conclusion | 290 |
292 | |
302 | |
309 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Ajax Aletheia allegory analysis Antisthenes argue argument Athenian Athens Atlantis audience authority belief chapter characterised charioteer collection and division concerns context cosmology critique Demokritos dialectic dialogue discourse divine Doxa educational Empedokles epideixis Epimetheus ethical expression goddess gods Gorgias Greek Herakleitos Herakles Hesiod Hippias Hippias Minor Homer human implications important intellectual interlocutors interpretation justice Kallikles knowledge kouros Kritias language linguistic literary logical lover manipulation methodological mortal Myth of Er mythical mythological mythological material mythos mythos and logos narrative nature Neoptolemos Odysseus orator Palamedes paradigm Parmenides Phaedo Phaedrus Phaidros philo philosophical philosophical discussion philosophical myth Plato Platonic myth play poetic poetry poets political excellence present Presocratics problem Prodikos proem Prometheus Protagoras Protagorean question rational rationalisation reality realm recollection relationship Republic rhetoric sensible seriousness Sokrates Solon sophical sophists soul speak speech status story Theaetetus things thought Timaeus Timaios tion tradition truth words Xenophanes Zeus