Description
Book SynopsisThe last several decades have witnessed an explosion of research in Platonic philosophy. A central focus of his philosophical effort, Plato''s psychology is of interest both in its own right and as fundamental to his metaphysical and moral theories. This anthology offers, for the first time, a collection of the best classic and recent essays on cenral topics of Plato''s psychological theory, including essays on the nature of the soul, studies of the tripartite soul for which Plato argues in the Republic, and analyses of his varied arguments for immortality. With a comprehensive introduction to the major issues of Plato''s psychology and an up-to-date bibliography of work on the relevant issues, this much-needed text makes the study of Plato''s psychology accessible to scholars in ancient Greek philosophy, classics, and history of psychology.
Trade ReviewEllen Wagner has compiled a superb collection of essays, in which leading scholars examine Plato's views on the nature, structure, and immortality of the soul. With an illuminating introduction and extensive bibliography, this is an invaluable companion for all students of Plato's psychology -- Fred D. Miller, Jr., Bowling Green State University
Wagner's volume, both as a whole and in its parts, will be an important resource for teachers and students; as she points out at the beginning of her level-headed introduction, this is—surprisingly, for so important and well-populated a subject—the first anthology of pieces on Plato's psychology; and it brings together some of the best. * Phronesis *
There have been monographs on the subject before, but this is the era of the scholarly essay, and there has never been an anthology like this. It is extremely welcome. * The Heythrop Journal *
Ellen Wagner gives us an excellent introduction to the importance and the complexity of Plato's psychology in bringing together, in a focussed and illuminating way, the best articles written on the subject in recent years. Any student of Plato's thought will benefit from this collection. -- Julia Annas, University of Arizona
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Part 2 The Nature of the Soul Chapter 3 Fallacies in the Phaedo Again Chapter 4 The Arguments in the Phaedo Concerning the Thesis that the Soul is a Harmonia Chapter 5 Supervenience and the Thesis that the Soul is a Harmonia Part 6 The Tripartite Soul Chapter 7 Plato's Theory of Human Motivation Chapter 8 Plato's Analogy of Soul and State Chapter 9 Simple Souls Chapter 10 The Analogy of City and Soul in Plato's Republic Chapter 11 Inside and Outside the Republic Chapter 12 Akrasia and Agency in Plato's Laws and Republic Part 13 Arguments for Immortality of the Soul Chapter 14 The Soul and Immortality in Plato's Phaedo Chapter 15 Plato's "Cyclical" Argument Recycled Chapter 16 The Final Proof of the Immortality of the Soul in Plato's Phaedo 102a-107a Chapter 17 A Defense of Plato's Argument for the Immortality of the Soul at Republic X 608c-611a Chapter 18 The Argument for Immortality in Plato's Phaedrus Chapter 19 Immortality and the Nature of the Soul in the Phaedrus
