Why Plato Wrote
Blackwell-Bristol Lectures on Greece, Rome and the Classical Tradition
1. Auflage Oktober 2010
248 Seiten, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-4443-3448-7
John Wiley & Sons
Why Plato Wrote argues that Plato was not only the
world's first systematic political philosopher, but also the
western world's first think-tank activist and message man.
* Shows that Plato wrote to change Athenian society and thereby
transform Athenian politics
* Offers accessible discussions of Plato's philosophy of
language and political theory
* Selected by Choice as an Outstanding Academic Title for
2011
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Prologue: Why Think about Plato?
Part I: Why Plato Wrote
Part II: What Plato Did
Epilogue: And to My Colleagues
Appendix 1. The Relationship between Paradigms and Forms
Appendix 2. A Second Tri-partite Division of the Soul?
Appendix 3. Miso- Compounds in Greek Literature Notes
References
Further Reading
Index
List of Abbreviations
Prologue: Why Think about Plato?
Part I: Why Plato Wrote
Part II: What Plato Did
Epilogue: And to My Colleagues
Appendix 1. The Relationship between Paradigms and Forms
Appendix 2. A Second Tri-partite Division of the Soul?
Appendix 3. Miso- Compounds in Greek Literature Notes
References
Further Reading
Index
"Packed with controversial theses, engagingly and
intelligently written, iconoclastic - there's not much
wrong with this book as a work of ancient philosophy."
(The Heythrop Journal, 4 September 2013)
"In her bold and richly absorbing study, Why Plato Wrote, Danielle
S. Allen argues that the answer to why Plato wrote is also the
answer to the relation between the Platonic dialogues and Athenian
political life ... He may have elected not to enter the political
fray in Athens as ordinarily understood, but Danielle Allen shows
with elegance and scholarship that he was indeed a politicos, just
as Diogenes Laertius claimed." (Times Literary Supplement,
23 December 2011)
"I have learned much from this book. It demands that we connect
Plato's writing to real life in his city. Even those who do not
share all its conclusions will be challenged by Allen's many
original insights into how Plato used symbols to work on our
intellect, our preconceptual beliefs, and our emotions." (Bryn
Mawr Classical Review, 21 November 2011)
"This extraordinary and scholarly book takes a fascinating new
look at Plato as politikos. It is a joy to read. Excellent notes,
bibliography, and index. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-level
undergraduates through faculty/researchers." (Choice, 1 June
2011)
"In this groundbreaking book Danielle Allen gives us Plato
for the 21st century: a boldly pragmatic and fiercely political
philosopher, a 'legislator of the world' whose vivid
writing reframed the moral practices of real communities, a
provocative and successful linguistic entrepreneur whose Socratic
dialogues sparked a culture war that defined Athenian politics in
the Age of Alexander. Compelling reading for anyone who cares
passionately about philosophy, politics, or classical
Greece."
Josiah Ober, Stanford University
"Why Plato Wrote is a deep and original work of
scholarship, a model of how the history of political philosophy
should be studied, and a pleasure to read."
Richard Kraut, Northwestern University
"Allen finds Plato to have invented himself as a writer
in order to use language as a route to social change. The
simple question 'why Plato wrote' unlocks a key to Plato's
political thought which no future scholar will be able to do
without."
Melissa Lane, Princeton University
intelligently written, iconoclastic - there's not much
wrong with this book as a work of ancient philosophy."
(The Heythrop Journal, 4 September 2013)
"In her bold and richly absorbing study, Why Plato Wrote, Danielle
S. Allen argues that the answer to why Plato wrote is also the
answer to the relation between the Platonic dialogues and Athenian
political life ... He may have elected not to enter the political
fray in Athens as ordinarily understood, but Danielle Allen shows
with elegance and scholarship that he was indeed a politicos, just
as Diogenes Laertius claimed." (Times Literary Supplement,
23 December 2011)
"I have learned much from this book. It demands that we connect
Plato's writing to real life in his city. Even those who do not
share all its conclusions will be challenged by Allen's many
original insights into how Plato used symbols to work on our
intellect, our preconceptual beliefs, and our emotions." (Bryn
Mawr Classical Review, 21 November 2011)
"This extraordinary and scholarly book takes a fascinating new
look at Plato as politikos. It is a joy to read. Excellent notes,
bibliography, and index. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-level
undergraduates through faculty/researchers." (Choice, 1 June
2011)
"In this groundbreaking book Danielle Allen gives us Plato
for the 21st century: a boldly pragmatic and fiercely political
philosopher, a 'legislator of the world' whose vivid
writing reframed the moral practices of real communities, a
provocative and successful linguistic entrepreneur whose Socratic
dialogues sparked a culture war that defined Athenian politics in
the Age of Alexander. Compelling reading for anyone who cares
passionately about philosophy, politics, or classical
Greece."
Josiah Ober, Stanford University
"Why Plato Wrote is a deep and original work of
scholarship, a model of how the history of political philosophy
should be studied, and a pleasure to read."
Richard Kraut, Northwestern University
"Allen finds Plato to have invented himself as a writer
in order to use language as a route to social change. The
simple question 'why Plato wrote' unlocks a key to Plato's
political thought which no future scholar will be able to do
without."
Melissa Lane, Princeton University
Danielle S. Allen is UPS Foundation Professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. She is the author of The World of Prometheus: The Politics of Punishing in Democratic Athens (2000) and Talking to Strangers: Anxieties of Citizenship Since Brown vs. the Board of Education (2004).