What do you think?
Rate this book
Of Myth, Life, and War in Plato's Republic
"Baracchi has identified pivotal points around which the Republic operates; this allows a reading of the entire text to unfold. . . . a very beautifully written book." ―Walter Brogan
" . . . a work that opens new and timely vistas within the Republic. . . . Her approach . . . is thorough and rigorous." ―John Sallis
Although Plato's Republic is perhaps the most influential text in the history of Western philosophy, Claudia Baracchi finds that the work remains obscure and enigmatic. To fully understand and appreciate its meaning, she argues, we must attend to what its original language discloses. Through a close reading of the Greek text, attentive to the pervasiveness of story and myth, Baracchi investigates the dialogue's major themes. The first part of the book addresses issues of generation, reproduction, and decay as they apply to the founding of Socrates' just city. The second part takes up the connection between war and the cycle of life, employing a thorough analysis of Plato's rendition of the myth of Er. Baracchi shows that the Republic is concerned throughout with the complex but intertwined issues of life and war, locating the site of this tangled web of growth and destruction in the mythical dimension of the Platonic city.
" . . . a work that opens new and timely vistas within the Republic. . . . Her approach . . . is thorough and rigorous." ―John Sallis
Although Plato's Republic is perhaps the most influential text in the history of Western philosophy, Claudia Baracchi finds that the work remains obscure and enigmatic. To fully understand and appreciate its meaning, she argues, we must attend to what its original language discloses. Through a close reading of the Greek text, attentive to the pervasiveness of story and myth, Baracchi investigates the dialogue's major themes. The first part of the book addresses issues of generation, reproduction, and decay as they apply to the founding of Socrates' just city. The second part takes up the connection between war and the cycle of life, employing a thorough analysis of Plato's rendition of the myth of Er. Baracchi shows that the Republic is concerned throughout with the complex but intertwined issues of life and war, locating the site of this tangled web of growth and destruction in the mythical dimension of the Platonic city.
- GenresPhilosophy
264 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2001
22 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
Read
September 13, 2020Myth of Er is essential to an informed reading of The Republic
Bold and remarkable interpretation of first nine books through the lens of the rebirth of the warrior and the extended metaphor of logos as battlefield. The philosopher engages the cynicism of the rhetorician and the public in order to defend the truth of justice
Bold and remarkable interpretation of first nine books through the lens of the rebirth of the warrior and the extended metaphor of logos as battlefield. The philosopher engages the cynicism of the rhetorician and the public in order to defend the truth of justice
Displaying 1 of 1 review