Method and Politics in Plato's Statesman

by M. S. Lane

Overview

This book is a philosophical analysis of Plato's dialogue the Statesman. Dr. Lane finds that rather than being transitional between the Republic and the Laws, the Statesman deserves a special place of its own—the dialogue emerging as a text that proposes a new conception of knowledge, authority, and the relationship between them. This investigation transforms our understanding of the Statesman and its fellow dialogues.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521036870
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/21/2007
Series:	Cambridge Classical Studies
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	5.63(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.59(d)

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements; Abbreviations and note on text; Introduction: method and politics in Plato's Statesman; Part I. Method: 1. Introduction; 2. The Sophist's use of example and division; 3. The Statesman's use of example and division; 4. The analysis of example; 5. Conclusions; Part II. The Story as a Fulcrum of the Dialogue: 6. Introduction: story-telling and self-criticism; 7. Telling the story; 8. Criticising the story; Part III. Politics: 9. Introduction; 10. Rivalry revisited: subordination of the arts to the mastery of the kairos; 11. Rivalry renewed: the challenge and subordination of law; 12. Political knowledge as weaving; 13. Conclusions; Select bibliography; General index; Index locorum.

Editorial Reviews

"Her book thus helps bring to light the range of interpretative issues that readers of this difficult dialogue must confront." Jacob Howland, International Journal of the Classical Tradition

"...this is a stimulating, intelligent, and illuminating work. It is thoughtful and thought-provoking." Review of Metaphysics

"The author successfully draw attention to two features of the Eleatic Stranger's method of division in Plato's Statesman... also gives an interesting account of how the Stranger identifies political expertise with picking out the critcal moment." Ethics

"...this book makes a number of interesting, helpful, profound observations..." Classical World

From the Publisher