Plato and Hesiod

by G. R. Boys-Stones (Editor), J. H. Haubold (Editor)

Overview

It hardly needs repeating that Plato defined philosophy partly by contrast with the work of the poets. What is extraordinary is how little systematic exploration there has been of his relationship with specific poets other than Homer. This neglect extends even to Hesiod, though Hesiod is of central importance for the didactic tradition quite generally, and is a major source of imagery at crucial moments of Plato's thought. This volume, which presents fifteen articles by specialists on the area, will be the first ever book-length study dedicated to the subject. It covers a wide variety of thematic angles, brings new and sometimes surprising light to a large range of Platonic dialogues, and represents a major contribution to the study of the reception of archaic poetry in Athens.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191608025
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	12/10/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	20 MB
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About the Author

G. R. Boys-Stones is Senior Lecturer in Classics, Durham University. Johannes Haubold is Leverhulme Senior Lecturer in Greek Literature, Durham University.

Table of Contents

List of contributors vii

Abbreviation ix

Introduction 1

Part I Plato and Hesiod

1 Shepherd, former, poet, sophist: Hesiod on his own reception J. H. Haubold 11

2 Hesiod and Plato's history of philosophy G. R. Boys-Stones 31

3 Plato's Hesiod: An acquired taste? G. W. Most 52

4 Hesiod in Plato: Second fiddle to Homer? Naoko Yamagata 68

5 Plato's Hesiod: not Plato's alone Hugo Koning 89

6 Hesiod in classical Athens: Rhapsodes, orators, and Platonic discourse Barbara Graziosi 111

7 Plato's two Hesiods Andrew L. Ford 133

Part II Individual Dialogues

8 The seductions of Hesiod: Pandora's presence in Plato's Symposium Vered Lev Kenaan 157

9 'Hesiod's races and your own': Socrates' 'Hesiodic' project Helen Van Noorden 176

10 Plato's Hesiod and the will of Zeus: Philosophical rhapsody in the Timaeus and the Critias Andrea Capra 200

11 Chaos corrected: Hesiod in Plato's creation myth E. E. Pender 219

12 Hesiod's Theogony and Plato's Timaeus David Sedley 246

13 Hesiod in the Timaeus: The Demiurge addresses the gods Maria Regali 259

14 Hesiod, Plato, and the Golden Age: Hesiodic motifs in the myth of the Politicus Dimitri El Murr 276

15 On grey-haired babies: Plato, Hesiod, and visions of the past (and future) Christopher Rowe 298

References 317

General Index 339

Index Locorum 343

Editorial Reviews

"This is a rich and original collection which offers new and exciting insights into Plato's interest in Hesiod as, among other things, a source of authority, a sophistic paradigm, a cosmogonist and an alternative to Homer...The essays in this volume are all original, interesting and, in most cases, provocative (in a good way)." — Jenny Bryan, University College London, The Classical Review

"Boys-Stones, Haubold, et al. have succeeded in elevating the discussion of the neglected relationship between Plato and Hesiod, thereby paving the way for future work...Hesiod joins the pantheon of literary rivals with whom Plato sustained a surprisingly deep and complex relationship." — Marcus Folch, Columbia University, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

From the Publisher