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Socrates in the Cave: On the Philosopher’s Motive in Plato (Recovering Political Philosophy) - Hardcover

Book 18 of 24: Recovering Political Philosophy
 
9783319768304: Socrates in the Cave: On the Philosopher’s Motive in Plato (Recovering Political Philosophy)
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 3319768301 ISBN 13: 9783319768304
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018

Synopsis

This book addresses the problem of fully explaining Socrates’ motives for philosophic interlocution in Plato’s dialogues. Why, for instance, does Socrates talk to many philosophically immature and seemingly incapable interlocutors? Are his motives in these cases moral, prudential, erotic, pedagogic, or intellectual? In any one case, can Socrates’ reasons for engaging an unlikely interlocutor be explained fully on the grounds of intellectual self-interest (i.e., the promise of advancing his own wisdom)? Or does his activity, including his self-presentation and staging of his death, require additional motives for adequate explanation? Finally, how, if at all, does our conception of Socrates’ motives help illuminate our understanding of the life of reason as Plato presents it? By inviting a multitude of authors to contribute their thoughts on these question―all of whom share a commitment to close reading, but by no means agree on the meaning of Plato’s dialogues―this book provides the reader with an excellent map of the terrain of these problems and aims to help the student of Plato clarify the tensions involved, showing especially how each major stance on Socrates entails problematic assumptions that prompt further critical reflection.

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About the Author

Paul J. Diduch is an Instructor in the Herbst Program of Humanities for Engineers at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA. He has published articles and reviews on Plato and Thucydides and is currently working on Socrates’ critique of pre-Socratic science and the problems of virtue and knowledge in Plato’s thought.


Michael P. Harding is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Political Science at Montgomery College, USA. He earned his doctorate from the Institute of Philosophic Studies at the University of Dallas, USA.

From the Back Cover

This book addresses the problem of fully explaining Socrates’ motives for philosophic interlocution in Plato’s dialogues. Why, for instance, does Socrates talk to many philosophically immature and seemingly incapable interlocutors? Are his motives in these cases moral, prudential, erotic, pedagogic, or intellectual? In any one case, can Socrates’ reasons for engaging an unlikely interlocutor be explained fully on the grounds of intellectual self-interest (i.e., the promise of advancing his own wisdom)? Or does his activity, including his self-presentation and staging of his death, require additional motives for adequate explanation? Finally, how, if at all, does our conception of Socrates’ motives help illuminate our understanding of the life of reason as Plato presents it? By inviting a multitude of authors to contribute their thoughts on these question―all of whom share a commitment to close reading, but by no means agree on the meaning of Plato’s dialogues―this book provides the reader with an excellent map of the terrain of these problems and aims to help the student of Plato clarify the tensions involved, showing especially how each major stance on Socrates entails problematic assumptions that prompt further critical reflection.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date
2018
Language
English
ISBN 10 
3319768301
ISBN 13 
9783319768304
Binding
Hardcover
Number of pages
361
Editor
Diduch Paul J., Harding Michael P.