A History of Modern Aesthetics narrates the history of philosophical aesthetics from the beginning of the eighteenth century through the twentieth century. Aesthetics began with Aristotle's defense of the cognitive value of tragedy in response to Plato's famous attack on the arts in The Republic, and cognitivist accounts of aesthetic experience have been central to the field ever since. But in the eighteenth century, two new ideas were introduced: that aesthetic experience is important because of emotional impact - precisely what Plato criticized - and because it is a pleasurable free play of many or all of our mental powers.
Plato and Myth: Studies on the Use and Status of Platonic Myths
This volume seeks to show how the philosophy of Plato relates to the literary form of his discourse. Myth is one aspect of this relation whose importance for the study of Plato is only now beginning to be recognized. Reflection on this topic is essential not only for understanding Plato s conception of philosophy and its methods, but also for understanding more broadly the relation between philosophy and literature. The twenty chapters of this volume, contributed by scholars of diverse backgrounds and approaches, elucidate the various uses and statuses of Platonic myths in the first place by reflecting on myth per se and in the second place by focusing on a specific myth in Platonic corpus.
16 lectures of 45 minutes Beginning with Greece's own pre-history in Cycladic and Minoan civilizations through the warrior kings of Mycenae. These lectures share in the invention and developing consciousness that led to the poetry of Homer, the philosophical achievements of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle as well as the rich artistic legacy left to us by the rich first flower of western civilization.
Plato is the most important philosopher in the history of Western philosophy. This guidebook introduces and examines his three dialogues that deal with the death of Socrates:Euthphryo,ApologyandCrito. These dialogues are widely regarded as the closest exposition of Socrates' ideas. Plato and the Trial of Socratesintroduces and assesses: * Plato's life and the background to the three dialogues * The ideas and text in the three dialogues * Plato's continuing importance to philosophy Plato and the Trial of Socrateswill be ideal for anyone coming to Plato or the three dialogues for the first time.
