• Attempting the Political Art

    Author(s):
    Christopher Long (see profile)
    Date:
    2014
    Group(s):
    Philosophy
    Subject(s):
    Philosophy
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Ancient Philosophy, Plato, Socrates
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/M6R02Q
    Abstract:
    The main thesis of this essay is that the practice of Socratic political speaking and the practice of Platonic political writing are intimately interconnected but distinct. The essay focuses on the famous passage from the Gorgias in which Socrates claims to be one of the few Athenians who attempt the political art truly and goes on to articulate the nature of his political practice as a way of speaking toward the best (521d6-e2). It then traces the ways Socrates attempts to use words to turn Gorgias, Polus and Callicles toward the best in the course of the dialogue. What emerges is a picture of a philosophical friendship between Gorgias and Socrates rooted in a common concern for justice. Yet, Socrates’ success with Gorgias is overshadowed by his failure to convince Polus or Callicles to allow a concern for truth, justice and the good to animate the course of their lives. Even so, the political practice of Platonic writing is shown in the essay to be designed to awaken in us, the readers, precisely such a concern to live a life in which words are spoken in ways that uncover the truth and are directed toward the best.
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Journal article     Show details
    Pub. DOI:
    10.1163/22134417-90000135
    Publisher:
    Brill Academic Publishers
    Pub. Date:
    2014-2-7
    Journal:
    Proceedings of the Boston Area Colloquium of Ancient Philosophy
    Volume:
    27
    Issue:
    1
    Page Range:
    153 - 182
    ISSN:
    1059-986X,2213-4417
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    7 years ago
    License:
    Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
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