The Blackwell Guide to Plato's Republic (Blackwell Guides to Great Works, Vol. 1)

The Blackwell Guide to Plato’s Republic consists of thirteen new essays written by both established scholars and younger researchers with the specific aim of helping readers to understand Plato’s masterwork. This guide to Plato’s Republic is designed to help readers understand this foundational work of the Western canon. Sheds new light on many central features and themes of the Republic. Covers the literary and philosophical style of the Republic; Plato’s theories of justice and knowledge; his educational theories; and his treatment of the divine. Will be of interest to readers who are new to the Republic, and those who already have some familiarity with the book. The Blackwell Guides to Plato's Republic (2006) ......Page 1 Blackwell Guides to Great Works......Page 3 ISBN-13: 9781405115636......Page 5 --> Contents......Page 6 Notes on Contributors......Page 8 Introduction......Page 11 1 Introduction......Page 17 2 New Beginnings, or Continuity? Contrasting Readings of the Republic......Page 20 A neutral summary......Page 22 An alternative reading of the argument of the Republic......Page 24 3 Plato and his Audience, Plato and Socrates......Page 27 Notes......Page 30 References......Page 34 I......Page 35 II......Page 36 III......Page 40 IV......Page 41 V......Page 44 VI......Page 48 Notes......Page 52 References......Page 53 3 - Socrates’ Refutation of Thrasymachus (Rachel Barney)......Page 54 Thrasymachus on Justice......Page 55 Thrasymachus and the Ruler in the Strict Sense......Page 57 Socrates’ Refutation of Thrasymachus......Page 58 I The “nature of craft” argument (341c–342e)......Page 59 II The “wage-earning” argument (345e–3457d)......Page 61 III The “non-pleonectic” argument (349b–350c)......Page 62 IV The “gang-of-thieves” argument (351b–352b)......Page 64 V The “function” argument (352d–354a)......Page 65 Conclusions: The Function and Limitations of the Arguments......Page 66 Notes......Page 69 References and further reading......Page 71 4 - Plato’s Challenge: the Case against Justice in Republic II (Christopher Shields)......Page 73 The Situation of Republic II......Page 75 What Kind of Good is Justice?......Page 76 The Origin and Nature of Justice......Page 80 The Tale of Gyges......Page 82 Life Choices......Page 87 Socrates’ Reaction and Ours......Page 90 Notes......Page 91 References......Page 92 Cephalus and Socratic Piety......Page 94 Plato’s New Gods......Page 97 Platonic Piety......Page 100 Forms and Gods......Page 102 Gods and Souls......Page 106 Notes......Page 108 References......Page 111 6 - Plato on Learning to Love Beauty (Gabriel Richardson Lear)......Page 114 Beauty and Goodness......Page 117 Patterns of Beautiful Poetry......Page 119 Human Excellence and the Standard of Poetic Beauty......Page 123 Moral Psychology......Page 125 Conclusion......Page 130 Notes......Page 131 References......Page 133 7 - Methods of Reasoning about Justice in Plato’s Republic (Gerasimos Santas)......Page 135 The Empirical Method of Thrasymachus......Page 136 The Contractarian Method of Glaucon......Page 139 The Functional Method of Plato......Page 142 The Significance of Methods......Page 151 References......Page 155 II......Page 156 III......Page 158 IV......Page 163 V......Page 170 Notes......Page 172 References......Page 175 9 - The Divided Soul and the Desire for Good in Plato’s Republic (Mariana Anagnostopoulos)......Page 176 Plato’s Argument for the Tripartition of the Soul......Page 178 Psychic Justice and the Composite Soul......Page 186 The Problem of Unjust Souls......Page 188 Desire for the Good......Page 190 Notes......Page 193 References and further reading......Page 197 Introduction......Page 199 The Ship and Those on Board......Page 200 The Unruly Ship......Page 203 The Normal Ship......Page 211 Choosing a Steersman......Page 217 Conclusion......Page 220 Notes......Page 221 References......Page 222 I......Page 224 II......Page 227 III......Page 229 IV......Page 230 V......Page 234 VI......Page 235 VII......Page 238 Notes......Page 240 References......Page 243 1 On What the Forms Are: the Present State of the Question......Page 244 2 Sketch of the View to be Offered Here......Page 247 4 The Republic’s Project as a Whole......Page 248 5 The First Group of Passages on the Forms (V.472b–e with 454a–456c)......Page 250 6 The Second Group of Passages (X.596a–602b)......Page 254 7 The Third Group of Passages on the Forms (V.475e–480b, VI.484b–485b, 486d–e, 490a–b, 493e–494a, 500b–502d)......Page 256 8 The Fourth Group of Passages (VI.502c–VII.541b: Sun, Line, and Cave) as Describing the “Longer Road”: Plato’s Identification of The Good with The Form of the Good......Page 259 9 The Anti-reductionism of the Sun, Line, and Cave about the Real Natures of Things that Structure the Universe......Page 261 Notes......Page 267 References......Page 271 13 - Plato’s Defense of Justice in the Republic (Rachel G. K. Singpurwalla) ......Page 273 I......Page 274 II......Page 278 III......Page 279 IV......Page 281 V......Page 283 VI......Page 286 Notes......Page 290 References......Page 292 General Bibliography......Page 293 Index......Page 295 Editor's Introduction -- The Literary And Philosophical Style Of The Republic / Christopher Rowe -- Allegory And Myth In Plato's Republic / Jonathan Lear -- Socrates' Refutation Of Thrasymachus / Rachel Barney -- Plato's Challenge : The Case Against Justice In Republic Ii / Christopher Shields -- The Gods And Piety Of Plato's Republic / Mark L. Mcpherran -- Plato On Learning To Love Beauty / Gabriel Richardson Lear -- Methods Of Reasoning About Justice In Plato's Republic / Gerasimos Santas -- The Analysis Of The Soul In Plato's Republic / Hendrik Lorenz -- The Divided Soul And The Desire For The Good In Plato's Republic / Mariana Anagnostopoulos -- Plato And The Ship Of State / David Keyt -- Knowledge, Recollection, And The Forms In Republic Vii / Michael T. Ferejohn -- The Forms In The Republic / Terry Penner -- Plato's Defense Of Justice In The Republic / Rachel G. K. Singpurwalla. Edited By Gerasimos Santas. Series Numbering From List In Later Volume. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Editor's introduction The literary and philosophical style of the Republic / Christopher Rowe Allegory and myth in Plato's Republic / Jonathan Lear Socrates' refutation of Thrasymachus / Rachel Barney Plato's challenge : the case against justice in Republic II / Christopher Shields The gods and piety of Plato's Republic / Mark L. McPherran Plato on learning to love beauty / Gabriel Richardson Lear Methods of reasoning about justice in Plato's Republic / Gerasimos Santas The analysis of the soul in Plato's Republic / Hendrik Lorenz The divided soul and desire for the good in Plato's Republic / Mariana Anagnostopoulos Plato and the ship of state / David Keyt Knowledge, recollection, and the forms in Republic VII / Michael T. Ferejohn Plato's theory of forms in the Republic / Terrence Penner Plato's defense of justice / Rachel G. K. Singpurwalla. "The Blackwell Guide to Plato's Republic consists of thirteen new essays written by both established scholars and younger researchers with the specific aim of helping readers to understand Plato's masterwork. The essays shed new light on many central features and themes of the Republic including: Plato's literary and philosophical style; his use of myths, metaphors, and allegories; his theories of justice and knowledge; and his treatment of psychology, education, myth, and the divine. Contributors include Christopher Rowe, David Keyt, Jonathan Lear, Terry Penner, Rachel Barney, and Hendrik Lorenz. Written clearly and simply, this volume is the ideal companion for readers coming to the Republic for the first time, and will also be of interest to those returning to this foundational work of the Western canon"--Provided by publisher The Blackwell Guide to Plato's Republic consists of thirteen new essays written by both established scholars and younger researchers with the specific aim of helping readers to understand Plato's masterwork.The essays shed new light on many central features and themes of the Republic including: Plato's literary and philosophical style; his use of myths, metaphors, and allegories; his theories of justice and knowledge; and his treatment of psychology, education, myth, and the divine. Contributors include Christopher Rowe, David Keyt, Jonathan Lear, Terry Penner, Rachel Barney, Christopher Shields, and Hendrik Lorenz.Written clearly and simply, this volume is the ideal companion for readers coming to the Republic for the first time, and will also be of interest to those returning to this foundational work of the Western canon. The Republic is by any standards a large work, occupying ten "books"; it is the second longest, after the Laws, which has twelve books, and it is very nearly four times the length of the next longest of Plato's works, the Timaeus.