Plato: A Civic Life

Description

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. Cover Half-title Page Title Page Copyright Contents Introduction 1. A Wartime Childhood 2. Education in a Divided City 3. The Trial and Death of Socrates 4. Plato outside Athens 5. Establishing an Academy 6. The Academy Flourishes 7. Legacy References Bibliography Acknowledgements Photo Acknowledgements Index