Description
Book SynopsisThe City-State of the Soul: Self-Constitution in Plato's Republic explores Plato's idea that the moral life consists in the founding of one's own soul. This insight is central to the long argument of the Republic and, in particular, to the complex relation between the city and the human soul. This fruitful picture of the moral life, however, has not received the attention it deserves. As Kevin M. Crotty argues, Plato's distinctive insight is that justice is above all a creative force. Plato presents justice not as a relation amongst fully formed individuals, but rather as the quality that galvanizes a diverse welter of disparate parts into a coherent entity (above all, a soul or a city). Justice, then, is the virtue most closely associated with beingthe source of its philosophical stature. Plato presents a conception of justice meant to impress the young, bright and ambitious as a noble pursuit, and a task worthy of their best talents. The City-State of the Soul is written for anyone i
Trade ReviewFor its in-depth picture of the founder as distinguished from the philosopher-king, Crotty’s study is well worth reading. Readers will also discover a wealth of other insights from this thought-provoking and well-crafted book. * Polis *
Crotty's knowledge of Greek and his historical acumen make for many insightful points that both novice and veteran readers of the Republic will enjoy reading and thinking about. . . . Crotty's reading of the Republic offers students and scholars of this great text much to think about. In this way, like other valuable contributions to Republic scholarship, it inspires the continuous rereading of Plato's masterpiece. * Review of Metaphysics *
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter One: Why Is Thrasymachus So Angry? Chapter Two: Genealogies of Justice Chapter Three: Utopia and Its Founder Chapter Four: Philosophy and the Founder’s Perspective Chapter Five: Why the Philosophers Will Govern Introduction to Part Two Chapter Six: The Soul and its Parts (I) Chapter Seven: The Soul and its Parts (II) Chapter Eight: Justice and Action Chapter Nine: Freedom Bibliography
