How Plato Writes - Perspectives and Problems

Plato is a philosophical writer of unusual and ingenious versatility. His works engage in argument but are also full of allegory, imagery, myth, paradox and intertextuality. He astutely characterises the participants whom he portrays in conversation. Sometimes he composes fictive dialogues in dramatic form while at other times he does so as narratives. In this book, world-renowned scholar Malcolm Schofield illustrates the variety of the literary resources that Plato deploys to achieve his philosophical purposes. He draws key passages for discussion particularly, but not only, from Republic and the less well-known Laws and also shows how reconstructing the original historical context of a dialogue and of its assumed readership is essential to understanding Plato's approach. The book will open the eyes of readers of all levels of expertise to Plato's masterly ability as a writer and how an understanding of this is crucial if we are to appreciate his philosophy.

Product details

• Authors: Malcolm Schofield, Malcolm (University of Cambridge) Schofield, Schofield Malcolm
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.09.2023
• EAN: 9781108483087
• ISBN: 978-1-108-48308-7
• Dimensions: 155 mm x 235 mm x 22 mm
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; Non-fiction book; LITERARY CRITICISM / Ancient & Classical, PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, LITERARY COLLECTIONS / General, Classical texts, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, Ancient (Classical) Greek, Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500, Ancient, classical and medieval texts