The Argument of the Action : Essays on Greek Poetry and Philosophy

This volume brings together Seth Benardete's studies of Hesiod's Theogony, Homer's Iliad, and Greek tragedy, of eleven Platonic dialogues, and Aristotle's Metaphysics. These essays, some never before published, others difficult to find, span four decades of his work and document its impressive range. Benardete's philosophic reading of the poets and his poetic reading of the philosophers share a common ground that makes this collection a whole. The key, suggested by his reflections on Leo Strauss in the last piece, lies in the question of how to read Plato. Benardete's way is characterized not just by careful attention to the literary form that separates doctrine from dialogue, and speeches from deed; rather, by following the dynamic of these differences, he uncovers the argument that belongs to the dialogue as a whole. The "turnaround" such an argument undergoes bears consequences for understanding the dialogue as radical as the conversion of the philosopher in Plato's image of the cave. Benardete's original interpretations are the fruits of this discovery of the "argument of the action." Benardete's Philosophic Reading Of The Poets And His Poetic Reading Of The Philosophers Share A Common Ground That Makes This Collection A Whole. The Key, Suggested By His Reflections On Leo Strauss In The Last Piece, Lies In The Question Of How To Read Plato. Benardete's Way Is Characterized Not Just By Careful Attention To The Literary Form That Separates Doctrine From Dialogue And Speeches From Deed; Rather, By Following The Dynamic Of These Differences, He Uncovers The Argument That Belongs To The Dialogue As A Whole. The Turnaround Such An Argument Undergoes Bears Consequences For Understanding The Dialogue As Radical As The Conversion Of The Philosopher In Plato's Image Of The Cave. Benardete's Original Interpretations Are The Fruits Of This Discovery Of The Argument Of The Action.--jacket. 1. The First Crisis In First Philosophy -- 2. Achilles And The Iliad -- 3. The Aristeia Of Diomedes And The Plot Of The Iliad -- 4. The Furies Of Aeschylus -- 5. Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus -- 6. Euripides' Hippolytus -- 7. On Greek Tragedy -- 8. Physics And Tragedy: On Plato's Cratylus -- 9. On Plato's Symposium -- 10. Protagoras's Myth And Logos -- 11. On Plato's Lysis -- 12. On Interpreting Plato's Charmides -- 13. Plato's Laches: A Question Of Definition -- 14. On Plato's Phaedo -- 15. Plato Is Theaetetus: On The Way Of The Logos -- 16. On Plato's Sophist -- 17. The Plan Of Plato's Statesman -- 18. On The Timaeus -- 19. On Wisdom And Philosophy: The First Two Chapters Of Aristotle's Metaphysics A -- 20. Strauss On Plato. Seth Benardete ; Edited And With An Introduction By Ronna Burger And Michael Davis. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 419-421) And Index. "Benardete's philosophic reading of the poets and his poetic reading of the philosophers share a common ground that makes this collection a whole. The key, suggested by his reflections on Leo Strauss in the last piece, lies in the question of how to read Plato. Benardete's way is characterized not just by careful attention to the literary form that separates doctrine from dialogue and speeches from deed; rather, by following the dynamic of these differences, he uncovers the argument that belongs to the dialogue as a whole. The "turnaround" such an argument undergoes bears consequences for understanding the dialogue as radical as the conversion of the philosopher in Plato's image of the cave. Benardete's original interpretations are the fruits of this discovery of "the argument of the action.""--BOOK JACKET. This volume brings together Seth Benardete's studies of Hesiod, Homer, and Greek tragedy, eleven Platonic dialogues, and Aristotle's Metaphysics. The Argument of the Action spans four decades of Seth Benardete's work, documenting its impressive range. Benardete's philosophic reading of the poets and his poetic reading of the philosophers share a common ground, guided by the key he found in the Platonic dialogue: probing the meaning of speeches embedded in deeds, he uncovers the unifying intention of the work by tracing the way it unfolds through a movement of its own. Benardete's original interpretations of the classics are the fruit of this discovery of the “argument of the action.” CONTENTS......Page 2 PREFACE......Page 3 INTRODUCTION......Page 4 1......Page 12 2......Page 18 3......Page 28 4......Page 42 5......Page 46 6......Page 53 7......Page 60 8......Page 84 9......Page 94 10......Page 104 11......Page 110 12......Page 126 13......Page 141 14......Page 151 15......Page 161 16......Page 176 17......Page 192 18......Page 203 19......Page 213 20......Page 218 INDEX......Page 224