Description
Why did Plato put his philosophical arguments into dialogues, rather than presenting them in a plain and readily understandable fashion? In writing rich tales of philosophical encounters, does Plato desert clarity in favour of seducing his readers with fine words, or is there a philosophical reason behind the form of his argument? While recent work has focused on the literary brilliance of the early dialogues, the late dialogues present a particular problem: they lack the vivid literary character of Plato's earlier works, and the dialogue structure seems to be a mere formality. Is there a philosophical reason why Plato's late works are in the form of dialogues? In this volume, a group of internationally prominent scholars address that question. Their answers are fresh, varied, and powerfully argued. This volume offers both a series of first-class essays on major late Platonic dialogues and a discussion which has important implications for the study of philosophical method and the relation between philosophy and literature. It shows that the literary form and modes of dialectic of the late dialogues are richly rewarding to study, and that doing so is of deep importance for Plato's philosophical project.
About the Author
Christopher Gill is Professor of Ancient Thought at the University of Exeter. He is the editor of The Person and the Human Mind: Issues in Ancient and Modern Philosophy (OUP, 1990) and the author of Personality in Greek Epic, Tragedy, and Philosophy: The Self in Dialogue (OUP, 1996). Mary Margaret McCabe is Professor of Philosophy at King's College London. She is the author of Plato on Punishment (Berkeley, 1981), and Plato's Individuals (Princeton, 1994).
Reviews
The contents of this volume are likely to provide much material for future discussions of late Plato. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199241422
Author Christopher Gill
Format Paperback
Page Count 358
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 426g
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 137mm * 20mm
About the Author
Christopher Gill is Professor of Ancient Thought at the University of Exeter. He is the editor of The Person and the Human Mind: Issues in Ancient and Modern Philosophy (OUP, 1990) and the author of Personality in Greek Epic, Tragedy, and Philosophy: The Self in Dialogue (OUP, 1996). Mary Margaret McCabe is Professor of Philosophy at King's College London. She is the author of Plato on Punishment (Berkeley, 1981), and Plato's Individuals (Princeton, 1994).
Reviews
The contents of this volume are likely to provide much material for future discussions of late Plato. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199241422
Author Christopher Gill
Format Paperback
Page Count 358
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 426g
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 137mm * 20mm
