Author Description
This Volume Brings Together Ten Of The Most Celebrated Platonic Myths, From Eight Of Plato's Dialogues Ranging From The Early Protagoras And Gorgias To The Late Timaeus And Critias. They Include The Famous Myth Of The Cave From Republic As Well As 'the Judgement Of Souls' And 'the Birth Of Love'. Each Myth Is A Self-contained Story, Prefaced By A Short Explanatory Note, While The Introduction Considers Plato's Use Of Myth And Imagery. -;'once Upon A Time There Were Just The Gods; Mortal Beings Did Not Yet Exist.' We Are Used To Thinking Of Myths As Stories, And Modern Myths As Made Up And Fictitious. For The Ancient Greeks, However, A Myth Was A Story That Unveiled Reality, And For Plato, Myth-maker As Well As Myth-teller, A Myth Could Tell Us Something Important About Ourselves And Our World. The Ultimate Purpose Of Plato's Myths Is To Help Us Live A Better Life, And To Teach Philosophical Truths In A Form We Can Most Easily Understand. This Volume Brings Together Ten Of The Most Celebrated Platonic Myths, From Eight Of Plato's Dialogues Ranging From The Early Protagoras And Gorgias To The Late Timaeus And Critias. They Include The Famous Myth Of The Cave From Republic As Well As 'the Judgement Of Souls' And 'the Birth Of Love'. Each Myth Is A Self-contained Story, Prefaced By A Short Explanatory Note, While The Introduction Considers Plato's Use Of Myth And Imagery. These Myths Are Thought-provoking And Profound, And Together They Provide An Ideal Introduction To Plato's Philosophy. -
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This collection investigates the function of myth as a pedagogical tool for conveying complex philosophical truths about the human condition and the nature of reality. Plato, the foundational figure of Western philosophy, utilizes these narratives to bridge the gap between abstract metaphysical concepts and accessible human understanding. By examining these stories, the text argues that myth serves not as mere fiction, but as a deliberate method for unveiling deeper existential insights.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Ten selected myths drawn from eight distinct Platonic dialogues.
- Explanatory notes accompanying each individual myth to provide context.
- An introductory analysis regarding Plato's specific application of imagery and narrative structure.
Scope Limits
- This volume does not provide a comprehensive analysis of Plato's entire body of work or his complete political theory.
- The text focuses primarily on the narrative components of the dialogues rather than the rigorous dialectical arguments found in other sections of the original works.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and students frequently identify this collection as an accessible entry point for those new to Platonic thought. Experts note that while the prose is clear, the underlying philosophical implications remain dense and require careful reflection to fully grasp.
Page Count:
208
Publication Date:
2004-01-01
ISBN-10:
0191517100
ISBN-13:
9780191517105
Philosophy
Classics
Ethics
Mythology
Epistemology