Plato's moral realism : the discovery of the presuppositions of ethics

Surveying many of Plato's dialogues from the early, middle, and late periods, prominent philosopher John M. Rist shows how Plato gradually came to realize the need for metaphysics to support his ethical position and that a rigorous ethics required a secure metaphysics grounded in universal values. Plato came to realize that his earlier attempts to construct the relevant metaphysics, culminating in the __Republic,__ were incomplete and his argumentation was insufficiently rigorous. Rist explains Plato's ongoing refinement of the theory of Forms and his hesitant attempts to relate claims about Forms to ideas about a divine mind (or god), which could offer an account of a transcendent reality as not only a formal and final cause of cosmic goodness and providence, but also an efficient cause. Rist concludes the book by considering what more would be needed to complete Plato's theory without making damaging compromises to the basic principles of his metaphysics of morals. He sketches how Plato might reply to various contemporary approaches to moral reasoning and especially moral obligation. Religion, Socrates, And The Platonic Socrates -- Scrutinizing Character, Scrutinizing Moral Propositions -- The Discovery Of Separate Form -- Forms And Erotic Passion -- Ethics, Psychology, And Metaphysics In The Phaedo -- The Republic : The Finished Theory Of Forms? -- Reconstructions : From Parmenides To Philebus -- Gods, God, And Goodness -- Ethics And Metaphysics : Then And Now -- Appendix A: Republic Book Five : Some Background To Eugenic Theology -- Appendix B : Literature And Platonic Transcendentalism. John M. Rist. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Religion, Socrates, and the Platonic Socrates 2. Scrutinizing Character, Scrutinizing Moral Propositions 3. The Discovery of Separate Form 4. Forms and Erotic Passion 5. Ethics, Psychology, and Metaphysics in the Phaedo 6. The Republic: The Finished Theory of Forms? 7. Reconstructions: From Parmenides to Philebus 8. Gods, God, and Goodness 9. Ethics and Metaphysics: Then and Now Appendix A: Republic Book Five: Some Background to Eugenic Theory Appendix B: Literature and Platonic Transcendentalism Selected Bibliography Index When Thomas Aquinas Completed His Treatise on the Passions, it probably constituted the longest sustained discussion of the emotions ever written. His influence on medieval and early modern philosophy was enormous, overshadowing every other medieval author on the topic of emotion. Nonetheless, Aquinas's account of emotion remains neglected by contemporary philosophers and theologians Surveying many of Plato’s dialogues from the early, middle, and late periods, prominent philosopher John M. Rist shows how Plato gradually realized the need for metaphysics to support his ethical position and that a rigorous ethics required a secure metaphysics grounded in universal values.