A new reading of Plato's philosophy that reveals it as deeply shaped by his experiences in Athens.
Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now.
ISBN: | 9781789149463 |
Publication date: | 1st October 2024 |
Author: | Carol Atack |
Publisher: | Reaktion Books |
Format: | Hardback |
Pagination: | 240 pages |
Series: | Great Lives of the Ancient World |
Genres: |
Ancient history |