Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Palgrave Macmillan

Plato, Diagrammatic Reasoning and Mental Models

  • Book
  • © 2023

Overview

Authors:
  1. Susanna Saracco

    1. Rivoli (TO), Italy

    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • Diagrammatic reasoning makes emerge Plato’s cognitive stimulation of his readers
  • Mental models challenge the logical competence of the readers, promoting the rational growth traced by Plato’s word
  • Structuralism points to a use of mathematics pertinent to an advanced stage of cognitive development

  • 413 Accesses

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 16.99 USD 29.99
Discount applied Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

About this book

This book analyses the role of diagrammatic reasoning in Plato’s philosophy: the readers will realize that Plato, describing the stages of human cognitive development using a diagram, poses a logic problem to stimulate the general reasoning abilities of his readers. Following the examination of mental models in this book, the readers will reflect on what inferences can be useful to approach this kind of logic problem. Plato calls for a collaboration between writer and readers. In this book the readers will examine the connection between diagrams and discovery, realizing the important epistemic role of visualization. They will recognize the crucial role that diagrams play in problem solving. The logic problem elaborated by Plato is addressed considering the epistemic function of mental models. These models introduce to an advanced stage of cognitive development, in which reasoning uses in its investigations a higher-level of mathematical complexity, represented by structuralism.

Keywords

Table of contents (6 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-vii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction

    • Susanna Saracco
    Pages 1-15

  3. The Collaboration Between Writer and Reader

    • Susanna Saracco
    Pages 17-35

  4. Visual Thinking

    • Susanna Saracco
    Pages 37-44

  5. Diagrammatic Reasoning

    • Susanna Saracco
    Pages 45-55

  6. Mental Models

    • Susanna Saracco
    Pages 57-76

  7. Theoretical Adulthood and Structuralism

    • Susanna Saracco
    Pages 77-88

  8. Back Matter

    Pages 89-91
    Download chapter PDF
Back to top

Reviews

“In this short yet dense book, Susanna Saracco adeptly navigates the complexities of Plato's epistemology and the motivations shaping his dialogue composition, providing a compelling analysis. Her examination reveals nuanced interpretations of pivotal texts like the Meno and the Republic, integrating developments in cognitive science and engaging with philosophical discussions on diagrammatic representation. Saracco not only adopts a primarily epistemological standpoint in her exploration of Plato but also broadens her focus by establishing sustained interdisciplinary connections with the fields of philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of science, and cognitive science. This multifaceted approach enriches her insights, rendering her work a significant contribution.” (Mario Piazza, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy)

“In this superb new book, Susanna Saracco breaks exciting new ground in analyzing Plato’s epistemology and his reasons for writing dialogues. She brings fresh meaning to texts such as the Meno and the Republic by drawing on recent work in cognitive science and the philosophical literature on the use of diagrams. It will be essential reading for anyone working on Plato and for contemporary philosophers interested in epistemological questions concerning diagrams.” (Christopher Bobonich, Stanford University)

“Saracco works from a primarily epistemological perspective on Plato but aims to broaden that with sustained interdisciplinary engagement with the philosophy of mathematics, philosophy of science, and cognitive science. Her overall argument is that Plato’s dialogues are best understood as an ongoing intellectual engagement between the reader and the writer. As the reader engages with various visual models within the texts, the reader moves from a perspective of theoretical childhood to theoretical adulthood. She maps this intellectual development of the various stages on the divided line. The book is very well-written and thought provoking.” (Anne-Marie Schultz, Baylor University, Waco, US)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Rivoli (TO), Italy

    Susanna Saracco

About the author

Susanna Saracco is a post-doctoral researcher, having received her PhD in philosophy from the University of Sydney, Australia. She is the author of the book Plato and Intellectual Development. Her pieces have been published, among others, in Plato Journal, Philosophia: Philosophical Quarterly of Israel and Metaphilosophy

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation