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This volume provides the first full, political and philosophically rigorous account of Plato's dialogue Alcibiades Major. The book argues that Alcibiades Major accomplishes its goal, which is to redirect Alcibiades' political ambitions, not by arguing for specific propositions based on specific premises. The dialogue accomplishes its goal by generalizing the notion of argument to include appeals to Alcibiades' doxastic attitudes toward his ability and knowledge to become a powerful ruler of the Greek people.
One such doxastic attitude that Alcibiades holds about himself, and one that Socrates deftly disabuses him of, is that he does not have to cultivate himself to be competitive with the local, Athenian politicians. Socrates reminds Alcibiades that his true competitors are not Athenian politicians, but rather the Spartan and Persian kings. Consequently, the psychological momentum of the dialogue is motivated by Socrates' aim to engender the right sort of beliefs in Alcibiades.
List of contents
Acknowledgements.- Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Method and Structure in Plato's Alcibiades Major.- Alcibiades Major and Women.- Chapter 3: The Philosophical and Political Structure of Plato's Alcibiades Major.- Chapter 4: "Listen, Alcibiades".- Alcibiades Major and Political Decisions.- Chapter 5: Instances of Decision Theory in Plato's Alcibiades Major, Minor and in Xenophon's Memorabilia.- Alcibiades Major and Political Priorities.- Chapter 6: Eudaimonia: Happiness and Priorities in Plato's Alcibiades Major and Plato's Apology.- Alcibiades Major and Listening Philosophically.- Chapter 7: Listening to Plutarch's Alcibiades in Plato's Alcibiades Major.- Chapter 8: Conclusion.- Addenda 1 and 2.
Summary
This volume provides the first full, political and philosophically rigorous account of Plato’s dialogue Alcibiades Major. The book argues that Alcibiades Major accomplishes its goal, which is to redirect Alcibiades’ political ambitions, not by arguing for specific propositions based on specific premises. The dialogue accomplishes its goal by generalizing the notion of argument to include appeals to Alcibiades’ doxastic attitudes toward his ability and knowledge to become a powerful ruler of the Greek people.
One such doxastic attitude that Alcibiades holds about himself, and one that Socrates deftly disabuses him of, is that he does not have to cultivate himself to be competitive with the local, Athenian politicians. Socrates reminds Alcibiades that his true competitors are not Athenian politicians, but rather the Spartan and Persian kings. Consequently, the psychological momentum of the dialogue is motivated by Socrates’ aim to engender the right sort of beliefs in Alcibiades.
