Plato
Page 24
There are many more influences, and far too many to recount. You could look at examples of political states based on Platonic models, such as a number of medieval states in Europe, or the kibbutzim in Israel. Despite the controversial nature of much of his philosophy, the fact that Plato, some 2,500 years after his death, continues to excite interest is merit and applause in itself. While something of a cliché, certainly, without Plato the world really would be a very different place.
Key terms
Caliph: A title given to the political leader of a Muslim community.
Emanation: Something that radiates from a person or thing. In Neoplatonism, the belief that the ‘One’ emanates its divine essence.
Machiavellianism: A political strategy in which politicians engage in unscrupulous methods to gain or maintain power.
Neoplatonism: ‘New’ Platonism that incorporates aspects of Plato’s teachings into mystical religious beliefs. Founded by Plotinus in the 3rd century AD.
Realpolitik. A term from the German ‘realistic politics’. It is the form of politics that bases power on practical concerns rather than moral or ideological.
Dig deeper
Barker, E. (trans.) (1995), Aristotle: Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kennedy, J. B. (2014), The Musical Structure of Plato’s Dialogues. London: Routledge.
Lyons, J. (2010), The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization. London: Bloomsbury.
MacLeod, R. (Ed.) (2004), The Library of Alexandria: Centre of Learning in the Ancient World. London: I. B. Tauris.
Parks, T. (2009), Niccolò Machiavelli: The Prince. London: Penguin.
Remes, P. (2008), Neoplatonism, Ancient Philosophies. Durham: Acumen.
Fact check
1 Which one of the following is a work by Aristotle?
a Religion
b Economics
c Philosophy
d Politics
2 Who did Aristotle once teach?
a Plato
b Strabo
c Socrates
d Alexander the Great
3 Which one of the following is the name given to a school of thought that incorporates aspects of Plato’s teachings into mystical religious beliefs?
a Machiavellianism
b Realpolitik
c Neoplatonism
d Hinduism
4 What is ‘emanation’?
a Something that radiates from a person or thing
b The teaching of dialectic
c A form of politics
d A form of therapy
5 What was the name of the great library in Baghdad?
a The House of Fun
b The House of Wisdom
c The House of Books
d The House of Words
6 What is the name of the first Muslim systematic philosopher?
a Al-Razi
b Al-Farabi
c Al-Kindi
d Al-Ghazali
7 Which one of the following is regarded as one of the great ‘Doctors of the Christian Church’?
a Averroës
b Augustine
c Al-Kindi
d Plato
8 Who is the author of the Narnia books?
a C. S. Lewis
b A. A. Milne
c B. B. King
d George R. R. Martin
9 What is the title of Machiavelli’s famous work?
a The King
b The Duke
c The Prince
d The Baron
10 In which country was the Library of Alexandria?
a Greece
b Egypt
c Persia
d Italy
Plato’s writings
The following translations of Plato’s works were used for this book:
Gill, C. (trans.) (1999), Plato: The Symposium. London: Penguin.
Rowe, C. (trans.) (2012), Plato, Republic. London: Penguin.
Saunders, T. (trans.) (1970), The Laws. London: Penguin
Tredennick, H. (trans.) (2003), Plato: The Last Days of Socrates. London: Penguin. Containing Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2008), Gorgias. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2005), Plato: Meno and Other Dialogues. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Containing Meno, Charmides, Lyches, Lysis.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2002), Plato: Phaedrus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2004), Plato: Theaetetus. London: Penguin.
Waterfield. R. (trans.) (2008), Plato: Timaeus and Critias. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Answers
CHAPTER 1
1 b
2 a
3 c
4 c
5 b
6 a
7 b
8 c
9 a
10 d
CHAPTER 2
1 a
2 b
3 b
4 c
5 d
6 d
7 a
8 c
9 c
10 d
CHAPTER 3
1 b
2 d
3 a
4 b
5 a
6 d
7 a
8 c
9 c
10 d
CHAPTER 4
1 a
2 b
3 d
4 d
5 a
6 c
7 b
8 a
9 c
10 a
CHAPTER 5
1 d
2 a
3 b
4 d
5 a
6 a
7 c
8 b
9 c
10 d
CHAPTER 6
1 a
2 b
3 a
4 c
5 b
6 d
7 c
8 d
9 b
10 a
CHAPTER 7
1 d
2 b
3 b
4 a
5 d
6 a
7 a
8 c
9 d
10 c
CHAPTER 8
1 d
2 b
3 b
4 b
5 a
6 d
7 a
8 c
9 a
10 c
CHAPTER 9
1 b
2 d
3 d
4 b
5 c
6 c
7 a
8 c
9 d
10 a
CHAPTER 10
1 d
2 c
3 a
4 b
5 c
6 b
7 c
8 d
9 a
10 d
CHAPTER 11
1 c
2 a
3 b
4 a
5 c
6 a
7 d
8 a
9 b
10 d
CHAPTER 12
1 c
2 a
3 b
4 b
5 a
6 d
7 d
8 a
9 b
10 d
CHAPTER 13
1 d
2 d
3 c
4 a
5 b
6 c
7 b
8 a
9 c
10 b
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