In "The Tragedy and Comedy of Life", Seth Benardete focuses on the idea of the good in what is widely regarded as one of Plato's most challenging and complex dialogs, the Philebus. Traditionally the Philebus is interpreted as affirming the doctrine that the good resides in thought and mind rather than in pleasure or the body. Benardete challenges this view, arguing that Socrates vindicates the life of the mind over the life of pleasure not by separating the two and advocating a strict asceticism, but by mixing pleasure and pain with mind in such a way that the philosophic life emerges as the only possible human life. Benardete combines a probing and challenging commentary that subtly mirrors and illuminates the complexities of this dialog with the finest English translation of the Philebus yet available. The result is a work that will be of great value to classicists, philosophers, and political theorists alike.

About the Author
Seth Benardete (1930-2001) was a classicist and philosopher who taught at New York University and the New School. He is the author of many books.

Reviews
"A most extraordinary man, a scholar and a philosopher.... His books... are there for people who want to fly to strange places without buying a ticket and without being frisked by security guards." - Harvey Mansfield, Weekly Standard"



Book Information
ISBN 9780226042763
Author Plato
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint University of Chicago Press
Publisher The University of Chicago Press
Weight(grams) 397g
Dimensions(mm) 23mm * 16mm * 2mm