Description
Book SynopsisAll disciplines can count on a noble founder, and the representation of this founder as an authority is key in order to construe a discipline's identity. This innovative volume explores how Plato and other authorities were represented in one of the most long-lasting traditions of all time.
Trade Review'The volume is a success. It addresses problems about conceptions of authority, a topic that is rightly seeing growing interest by historians of philosophy, in the diverse yet cognate contexts of the Platonic tradition. Its contributions are engaging and provoke thought on a wide range of material.' Peter Osorio, Bryn Mawr Classical Review
'The importance of this volume goes far beyond the field of Platonic studies.' Olga Alieva, Méthexis
Table of ContentsIntroduction Michael Erler, Jan E. Heßler and Federico M. Petrucci; 1. Xenocrates' invention of Platonism David Sedley; 2. An iconography of Xenocrates' Platonism David Sedley; 3. Arcesilaus' appeal to Heraclitus as a philosophical authority for his sceptical stance Anna Maria Ioppolo; 4. Authority beyond doctrines in the 1st century BC: Antiochus' model for Plato's authority Federico M. Petrucci; 5. Authority and doctrine in the pseudo-pythagorean writings Bruno Centrone; 6. Constructing authority: a re-examination of some controversial issues in the theology of Numenius Alexandra Michalewski; 7. Plutarch's E at Delphi: the hypothesis of platonic authority George Boys-Stones; 8. Aristotle's 'physics' as an authoritative work in early Neoplatonism (Plotinus and Porphyry) Riccardo Chiaradonna; 9. Conflicting authorities? Hermias and Simplicius on the self-moving soul Saskia Aerts; 10. Kathēgemōn the importance of the personal teacher in Proclus and later Neoplatonism Christian Tornau; 11. 'In Plato we can see the bad characters being changed by the good and instructed and purified' attitudes to platonic dialogue in later Neoplatonism Anne Sheppard.
