The Platonic Mind by Larsen, Peter D.; Politis, Vasilis;

Short description:

Essential reading for all students and researchers in philosophy. The Platonic Mind will also be of interest to those studying Plato in related disciplines such as politics, law, ancient history, literature, and religious studies.

Long description:

Plato is one of the most widely read and studied philosophers of all time. A pivotal figure in the history of philosophy, his work is foundational to the Western philosophical tradition.

The Platonic Mind provides an extensive survey of his work, not only placing it in its historical context but also exploring its contemporary significance. Comprising over 30 specially commissioned chapters by an international team of contributors, the volume is divided into three clear parts:

• Reading Plato’s Dialogues


• Themes From Plato


• Plato’s Influences and Significance

Within these sections key topics are addressed including the nature of reality and the physical world; human cognition, including knowledge, sense perception, and affective states; society, politics, and law; his method of inquiry and literary style; his influence on subsequent thinkers and traditions; and studies on a wide range of individual Platonic dialogues.

Plato’s work is central to the study of ancient philosophy, Greek philosophy, history of philosophy, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, political philosophy, epistemology, philosophy of science, ethics, philosophy of language, legal philosophy, and philosophy of religion. As such The Platonic Mind is essential reading for all students and researchers in philosophy. It will also be of interest to those studying Plato in related disciplines such as politics, law, ancient history, literature, and religious studies.

Table of Contents:

Introduction Peter D. Larsen and Vasilis Politis  Part 1: Reading Plato’s Dialogues  1. Self-Knowledge in Plato’s Charmides Raphael Woolf  2. Plato’s Protagoras, Virtue, and Happiness Iakovos Vasiliou  3. The Meno David Ebrey  4. The Gorgias Frisbee Sheffield  5. The Hippias Major David C. Lee  6. Is the Just Man a Bad Man? Hippias Minor and Republic I 331d–334b Roslyn Weiss  7. The Phaedo: Structure and Meaning Lloyd P. Gerson  8. The Cratylus David Meißner  9. Reading Plato’s Republic: Defending Justice Jyl Gentzler  10. The Phaedrus S. Glenn  11. The Euthydemus Benoît Castelnérac  12. Dialectic and the Discrimination of Kinds in the Sophist Fiona Leigh  13. The Parmenides Samuel C. Rickless  14. The Timaeus Luca Pitteloud  15. Plato’s Seventh Letter Vasilis Politis  Part 2: Themes from Plato  16. The Platonic Socrates Terence Irwin  17. Plato’s Questions and the Art of Questioning Angela Longo  18. Plato on Essences and Forms Vasilis Politis  19. Sense Perception and its Content Peter D. Larsen  20. Plato on Language and Thought Deborah K. W. Modrak  21. Truth, Music, and the “Measured” Mind Jan Szaif  22. Plato on Pleasure and Pain Clerk Shaw  23. Episteme Joseph Bjelde  24. Plato on Friendship and Love Vasilis Politis  25. The Benefits of Inquiring Jointly Toomas Lott and Pauliina Remes  26. Law and its Functions Antony Hatzistavrou  27. Humor, Comedy, and Irony in Plato Franco Trivigno  Part 3: Plato’s Influences and Significance  28. Plato’s Use of His Predecessors Nicolò Benzi  29. Plato and Aristotle on the Nature of Reality Christopher Buckels  30. The Development and Insights of Jewish Platonism Kenneth Seeskin  31. Plato in the Renaissance Leo Catana  32. Why Plato? A Defense of Platonism Against the Deflationary Metaphysics of Naturalism Philip Browne.  Index