Perceiving Plato's Concern

This book mainly delves into the practical moral poetics in Plato's late masterpiece, the Laws, and applies a comparative approach to Plato's philosophizing and the Chinese way of thinking in the domains of art-making, cultivating a good life, and music-poetry education.

Plato's main concern is psychic and correct education as the foundation of character building, coupled with the development of ideal guardians or perfect citizens. Such education requires a suitable use of allegories, myths, and poems, because it involves not only youngsters but also non-philosophers. Saturated with poetic wisdom, it enhances philosophical learning and human becoming in effect and sheds light on how to live a worthwhile life in praxis.

What is discussed herein will interest students and scholars of ancient Greek philosophy, classical studies, art theory, Chinese thought and poetry education, among others.

Keping Wang (i.e., Wang Keping) is a fellow of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and a professor of philosophy at CASS University, China. His research areas include East-West aesthetics, classical studies, and cultural philosophy.