Plato

Gebundenes Buch

The Republic

Beschreibung

The Republic is arguably the greatest of Plato's dialogues. Although its subject is the ideal state, it encompasses education, psychology, ethics and politics. In the Republic's central passage, Plato uses myth to explore the nature of reality, conveying a vision of the human predicament and the role of philosophy in setting us free. He imagines a cave whose inhabitants are chained from birth watching a shadow-play that they take for reality. The role of philosophy, and more specifically what Plato calls dialectic, is to turn us away from the shadow play and orient ourselves towards the real. This is the essence of the pursuit of wisdom without which an ideal state is impossible. Few modern readers will agree with everything that Plato says, yet his rigorous argument and poetic vision still have the power to stimulate and challenge. This enduring power has made The Republic one of the foundation stones of western culture.

Autor

Plato, born around 428/427 BCE in Athens, was a key figure in shaping Western philosophy. Coming from an aristocratic family, he was exposed early to politics and philosophy. His relationship with Socrates was pivotal, and after Socrates' execution, Plato traveled before founding the Academy, one of the first higher learning institutions.Plato's works, including Republic, Phaedo, and Symposium, have had a profound impact on philosophy, especially through his theory of Forms, which distinguishes the eternal world of ideas from the changing physical world. Through these dialogues, he tackled justice, reality, and the soul's immortality, with Socrates often serving as his central character. His philosophy shaped not only Aristotle but generations of thinkers across many fields.Plato's influence extended into theology, political theory, and the sciences. His Academy became a hub of intellectual activity, attracting students from across the Greek world. Even today, his works, preserved for over 2,000 years, continue to inspire debate and reflection, cementing his status as one of history's most studied philosophers.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Akasha Publishing, LLC
• Seitenzahl: 484
• Erscheinungstermin: 12. November 2009
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 222mm x 145mm x 32mm
• Gewicht: 821g
• ISBN-13: 9781605125176
• ISBN-10: 1605125172
• Artikelnr.: 28010707