Plato

Description

Plato was the first and most formidable thinker to recognise that education is a fiercely contested concept, and to point out what great social and personal issues are at stake in education. He articulated a compelling argument for a liberal arts education as something peculiarly befitting free and autonomous beings. He understood the centrality of education for human well-being and flourishing. And he was the first to set forth a systematic theory of education. In this text, Robin Barrow concisely and convincingly establishes the continuing relevance of Plato's views to debates on such issues as nature vs. nurture (or genetic inheritance vs. social background), philosophy vs. sophistry (or the pursuit of true understanding vs. the pursuit of reputation, or perhaps simply truth vs. politics and the media). Questions concerning the fair distribution of education, moral education, value judgments and human nature are explored along with themes more specifically associated with Plato's philosophy such as the Theory of Ideas. The whole is embedded in a clearly presented account of the historical background to Plato's thought. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Acknowledgements Abbreviations Series Editor’s Preface Foreword Part 1 Intellectual Biography Chapter 1 Historical Background Chapter 2 Sparta Chapter 3 The Presocratics Chapter 4 The Nature of the Times and Socrates Chapter 5 The Sophists Chapter 6 Conclusion Notes Part 2 A Critical Exposition of Plato’s Educational Thought Chapter 7 Primary Education in the Republic Chapter 8 Secondary Education in the Republic Chapter 9 The Theory of Ideas Chapter 10 The Concept of Education Chapter 11 Nature vs Nurture Chapter 12 Moral Education, Indoctrination and Censorship Chapter 13 The Humanities Chapter 14 The Soul Chapter 15 Dialectic Chapter 16 Eros Chapter 17 Summary: An Educational Theory Notes Part 3 The Reception and Influence of Plato’s Work Chapter 18 The Academy and an Outline of Plato’s Philosophical Legacy Chapter 19 Plato’s Legacy in Pre-Twentieth-Century Educational Philosophy Chapter 20 Plato’s Legacy in Educational Thought Notes Part 4 The Relevance of Plato Today Chapter 21 The Question of Relevance Chapter 22 Some Psychological Questions Chapter 23 Truth and Knowledge Chapter 24 Educational Distribution Chapter 25 Value Questions Chapter 26 Philosophy and Educational Theory Notes Epilogue Appendix 1: A Note on the Question of a Sophistic Movement Appendix 2: A Note on the Authenticity and Grouping of Plato’s Works Appendix 3: A Note on Reality Bibliography General Index Index of Greek Names Index of Greek Terms