Masters, Slaves and Philosophers: Plato, Hegel and Nietzsche on Freedom and the Pursuit of Knowledge (Philosophical Studies Series, 149)

"This book examines the relationship between freedom and true knowledge, which is a central part of the hotly debated issue of human freedom. Is truth necessary for the attainment of freedom? Does a free life require a clear understanding of reality? And if so, to what extent? These questions lead back to a classical philosophical debate, of which the first major chapter was written by Plato. In the dialogues, he describes human life as a peculiar form of imprisonment and calls for a global liberation of human cognition. This work analyses this ambitious project and its unique influence on the work of two modern authors, Hegel and Nietzsche, who explicitly linked the notions of ignorance and truth to those of bondage and freedom -- or slavery and mastery -- and whose philosophies are also centred on the liberation of human consciousness. Following a historical and systematic approach, this book is of interest to readers who are reasonably acquainted with the history of ancient and modern philosophy, including undergraduate and graduate students, as well as scholars working on Plato, German Idealism, Nietzsche and other related fields."--Back cover Abbreviations and Translations Acknowledgements Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 A Brief Anatomy of Freedom 1.2 Freedom and Education 1.3 Plato, Hegel and Nietzsche 1.3.1 Plato ́s Philosophical Project 1.3.2 Hegel ́s Phenomenological Project 1.3.3 Nietzsche ́s Metacognitive Project 1.4 Historical Affinities 1.5 Research Background Part I: Plato ́s Philosophical Project Chapter 2: Plato ́s Idea of Truth 2.1 Truth, Opinion and Doxa 2.2 Self-Confidence and Self-Interest 2.3 Body and Soul Chapter 3: Masters, Slaves and Philosophers 3.1 Rhetors and Philosophers 3.2 Socrates Versus Callicles 3.3 Masters and Slaves Chapter 4: Chains and Shadows 4.1 Inside the Cave 4.2 Towards the Light 4.3 The Self as Shadow Chapter 5: Philosophy and Deliverance 5.1 The Need for Deliverance 5.2 The Possibility of Deliverance 5.3 Plato and Hegel Part II: Hegel ́s Phenomenological Project Chapter 6: Hegel ́s Phenomenology of Spirit 6.1 Truth and Appearance 6.2 Experience as Science 6.3 Further Hermeneutical Issues Chapter 7: Knowledge, Power and Freedom 7.1 Selfhood and Otherness 7.2 Selfhood as Recognition 7.3 Masters, Slaves and Philosophers 7.4 The Unhappy Consciousness Chapter 8: Towards Freedom 8.1 Reason and Spirit 8.2 The Trials of Spirit 8.3 Tragedy and Comedy Chapter 9: Beyond the Phenomenology 9.1 Final Revelations 9.2 Science and the System 9.3 Hegel and Nietzsche Part III: Nietzsche ́s Metacognitive Project Chapter 10: Nietzsche ́s Idea of Truth 10.1 The Will to Truth 10.2 Truth and Metaphor 10.3 Science and Wisdom Chapter 11: Philosophy in Chains 11.1 The Socratic Turn 11.2 Athens and Jerusalem 11.3 Masters and Slaves 11.4 Asceticism and Nihilism Chapter 12: Philosophy Unchained 12.1 The Will to Power 12.2 Return to Callicles Chapter 13: Conclusions Bibliography Index