Plato as critical theorist / Jonny Thakkar
Material type: TextPublisher: Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, [2018]Description: xii, 373 pages ; 25 cmContent type: text Media type: unmediated Carrier type: volumeISBN: 9780674971769Subject(s): Plato. Republic | Philosopher-kings | Political ethics | Liberalism | Political participation | PlatonistsDDC classification: 321/.07 LOC classification: B398.P45 | T43 2018Summary: Is there any point in thinking about the best possible society? Over the last decade or so, a number of political philosophers have argued that such "ideal theory" is a dangerous distraction from the concrete power struggles that make up "real politics." Jonny Thakkar takes a different view, arguing that each and every one of us has a duty to engage in ideal theory. To make that case he turns to Plato's Republic, which depicts an ideal society within which ideal theory itself plays a vital role, thanks to the institution of philosopher-kings. The first half of the book offers a careful but creative reading of the notion of rule by philosophers. The second half of the book argues that in today's liberal democracies what we need is not philosopher-kings but philosopher-citizens--citizens who reflect, both individually and together, on how they could work together to produce an environment conducive to flourishing. Plato as Critical Theorist argues that the notion of philosopher-citizens is not only compatible with Rawlsian political liberalism, but an advance on it.-- Provided by publisherItem type | Current library | Collection | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
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Book | University of Macedonia Library Βιβλιοστάσιο Α (Stack Room A) | Main Collection | B398.P45T43 2018 (Browse shelf (Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 0013156505 |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 345-363) and index.
Is there any point in thinking about the best possible society? Over the last decade or so, a number of political philosophers have argued that such "ideal theory" is a dangerous distraction from the concrete power struggles that make up "real politics." Jonny Thakkar takes a different view, arguing that each and every one of us has a duty to engage in ideal theory. To make that case he turns to Plato's Republic, which depicts an ideal society within which ideal theory itself plays a vital role, thanks to the institution of philosopher-kings. The first half of the book offers a careful but creative reading of the notion of rule by philosophers. The second half of the book argues that in today's liberal democracies what we need is not philosopher-kings but philosopher-citizens--citizens who reflect, both individually and together, on how they could work together to produce an environment conducive to flourishing. Plato as Critical Theorist argues that the notion of philosopher-citizens is not only compatible with Rawlsian political liberalism, but an advance on it.-- Provided by publisher
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