Gerald M. Mara

Socrates' Discursive Democracy: Logos and Ergon in Platonic Political Philosophy

• Broschiertes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

Focusing on the speeches and actions of the Platonic Socrates, this book argues that Plato's political philosophy is a crucial source for reflection on the hazards and possibilities of democratic politics. "Gerald Mara has written a thoughtful, lively, yet wide-ranging book about the contributions of Platonic political philosophy to contemporary debates in political theory. By showing how Socrates' logos (the insistence that we go beyond ordinary sense for the rational solution of political problems) is tempered by if not opposed to his ergon (the particular behavior within practical discursive contexts) and insisting that Plato is both a metaphysician and an ironist, Mara enriches our understanding of various dialogues and the central subjects of Platonic philosophy and scholarship. On this basis he goes on to argue, persuasively I think, that Athenian democracy provided context and referent point for Plato's project even when that project included sharp warnings about democracy. The Plato that emerges provides the grounds for Mara's notion of a 'discursive democracy.' Mara does all this while entering into a respectful but critical engagement with an impressive range of contemporary political theorists and philosophers". -- J. Peter Euben, University of California, Santa Cruz "What makes this book so good is the way Mara brings his understanding of Plato to bear on contemporary theory. He juxtaposes Plato's position, as he understands it, with those of contemporary theorists such as Rorty, Habermas, Barber, Sandel, Rawls, and MacIntyre. Particularly intriguing is his discussion of the philosophic significance of the differences between Derrida's treatment of Plato and his own. Itis indeed a wonderful book". -- Mary Nichols, Fordham University

Produktdetails

• Verlag: State University of New York Press
• New
• Seitenzahl: 324
• Erscheinungstermin: Februar 1997
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 227mm x 150mm x 17mm
• Gewicht: 435g
• ISBN-13: 9780791433003
• ISBN-10: 0791433005
• Artikelnr.: 21793803

Autorenporträt

Gerald M. Mara is Executive Associate Dean in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Professional Lecturer in Government at Georgetown University.