Socratic Rationalism and Political Philosophy: An Interpretation of Plato's PhaedoIn this new interpretation of Plato's Phaedo, Paul Stern considers the dialogue as an invaluable source for understanding the distinctive character of Socratic rationalism. First, he demonstrates, contrary to the charge of such thinkers as Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Rorty, that Socrates' rationalism does not rest on the dogmatic presumption of the rationality of nature. Second, he shows that the distinctively Socratic mode of philosophizing is formulated precisely with a view to vindicating the philosophic life in the face of these uncertainties. And finally, he argues that this vindication results in a mode of inquiry that finds its ground in a clear understanding of the problematical but enduring human situation. Stern concludes that Socratic rationalism, aware as it is of the limits of reason, still provides a nondogmatic and nonarbitrary basis for human understanding. |
Contents
The Defense of Socrates | 9 |
The Proofs of Immortality | 49 |
15 | 55 |
17 | 63 |
49 | 69 |
Socrates Final Teaching | 147 |
Conclusion | 179 |
227 | |
235 | |
Other editions - View all
Socratic Rationalism and Political Philosophy: An Interpretation of Plato's ... Paul Stern No preview available - 1993 |
Common terms and phrases
Anaxagoras argument Aristotle aware Birth of Tragedy body Burger Burnet causality cause claim clear complexity concerning conclusion consider context Crito death defense desire dialogue difference distinction doctrine of Recollection Dorter earth Echecrates emphasis added entity Evenus example experience explanation expressed final proof follows Gallop genuine philosophers Hackforth Hades harmonia heterogeneous human existence ical imperishability incomposite insofar intelligibles interpretation issue Joseph Cropsey kind knowledge misanthropy misology myth Nicomachean Ethics Nietzsche Nietzsche's notion object opposite particular passage perplexities Phaedrus Phronesis Plato Plato's Phaedo political community possibility potential philosopher precisely Press principle proof of immortality pure wisdom question raises reason recognizes reference reflect relation Republic response second sailing senses separate Ideas Simmias and Cebes Socrates asks Socrates begins Socrates offers Socrates says Socrates speaks Socratic rationalism soul soul's speeches teleology Theaetetus Theseus things tion trans-human understanding Walter Kaufmann whole of nature words