Beautiful City (Hardcover)

David Roochnik

ISBN 10: 0801440874 / ISBN 13: 9780801440878

Published by Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 2003

About this Item

Hardcover. In "Beautiful City", David Roochnik argues that Plato's masterpiece is misunderstood by modern readers. The work must, he explains, be read dialectically, its parts understood as forming a unified whole. Approached in this way, the text no longer appears to defend an authoritarian and monolithic political system, but rather supplies a qualified defence of democracy and the values of diversity. Writing in clear and straightforward prose, Roochnik demonstrates how Plato's treatment of the city and the soul evolves throughout the dialogue and can be appreciated only by considering the "Republic" in its entirety. He shows that the views expressed in the early parts of the text do not represent Plato's final judgement on these subjects but are in fact dialectical "moments" intended to be both partial and provisional. Books 5-7 of the "Republic" are, he maintains, meant to revise and improve upon books 2-4. Similarly, he sees the usually neglected books 8-10 as advancing beyond the thoughts presented in the previous books.Paying particular attention to these later books, Roochnik details, for instance, how the stories of the "mistaken" regimes, which are often seen as unimportant, are actually crucial in Plato's account of the soul. The author argues that Plato's masterpiece is misunderstood by modern readers and must be read dialectically - its parts understood as forming a unified whole. Read in this way the text, he says, supplies a qualified defence of democracy and the values of diversity. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780801440878

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Beautiful City (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Cornell University Press, Ithaca
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0801440874
• ISBN 13: 9780801440878
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

In this slim but elegantly written volume, Roochnik (philosophy, Boston Univ.) treats Plato's 'Republic' as a dialogue, which is to say that he is attentive to the fact that 'The Republic' develops and builds as a conversation might, with progressive revisions, qualifications, and attention to the method of the dialectic itself.... Roochnik's approach is persuasive and highly recommended to scholars of the classical world. Summing Up: Highly recommended. ― Choice

Beautiful City is certain to be controversial, as the author's insights and opinions will engage and challenge philosophers, classicists, and political theorists.

To the vast literature on Plato's Republic comes a new interpretation. In Beautiful City, David Roochnik argues convincingly that Plato's masterpiece is misunderstood by modern readers. The work must, he explains, be read dialectically, its parts understood as forming a unified whole. Approached in this way, the text no longer appears to defend an authoritarian and monolithic political system, but rather supplies a qualified defense of democracy and the values of diversity.

Writing in clear and straightforward prose, Roochnik demonstrates how Plato's treatment of the city and the soul evolves throughout the dialogue and can be appreciated only by considering the Republic in its entirety. He shows that the views expressed in the early parts of the text do not represent Plato's final judgment on these subjects but are in fact dialectical "moments" intended to be both partial and provisional. Books 5-7 of the Republic are, he maintains, meant to revise and improve upon books 2-4. Similarly, he sees the usually neglected books 8-10 as advancing beyond the thoughts presented in the previous books. Paying particular attention to these later books, Roochnik details, for instance, how the stories of the "mistaken" regimes, which are often seen as unimportant, are actually crucial in Plato's account of the soul.

About the Author

David Roochnik is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Boston University. He is the author of The Tragedy of Reason: Towards a Platonic Conception of Logos and Of Art and Wisdom: Plato's Understanding of Techne.