Eros and socratic political philosophy / David Levy.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Levy, David, 1981-

Series:

Recovering political philosophy

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Plato--Political and social views.

Plato.

Socrates--Political and social views.

Socrates.

Love.

Philosophy, Ancient.

Political science--Philosophy.

Political science.

Political and social views.

Physical Description:

viii, 202 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York, N.Y. : Palgrave Macmillan, [2013]

Summary:

Eros and Socratic Political Philosophy offers a new account of Plato's view of eros, or romantic love, by focusing on a question which has vexed many scholars: why does Plato's Socrates praise eros highly on some occasions but also criticize it harshly on others? Through detailed analyses of Plato's Republic, Phaedrus, and Symposium, Levy shows how, despite the apparent tensions between Socrates's statements about eros in each dialogue, these statements supplement each other well and serve to clarify Socrates' understanding of the complex relationship between eros, religious belief, and philosophy. Thus, Levy's interpretation sheds new light not only on Plato's view of eros, but also on his view of piety and philosophy, challenging common assumptions about the erotic nature of Socratic philosophy. This novel approach to classic political theory will incite discussion and interest among scholars of classics, philosophy, and political theory. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 The Republic's Blame of Eros 13

2 The Phaedrus's Praise and Blame of Eros 55

3 Socrates's Symposium Speech 113.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781137345387

1137345381

OCLC:

829387018