Socrates’ Second Sailing
On Plato’s Republic
9780226042442
Socrates’ Second Sailing
On Plato’s Republic
A penetrating close account of the ideas found in Plato's most important work
When the winds fall, the sailor picks up his oars, no longer relying on help outside his own power. This “second sailing,” according to the distinguished classicist Seth Benardete, is the essence of Socratic philosophizing
In this section-by-section commentary on Plato's most important dialogue, Benardete argues that the Republic is such a self-powered, holistic analysis of the beautiful, the good, and the just. This book provides a fresh interpretation of the Republic and a new understanding of philosophy as practiced by Plato and Socrates.
When the winds fall, the sailor picks up his oars, no longer relying on help outside his own power. This “second sailing,” according to the distinguished classicist Seth Benardete, is the essence of Socratic philosophizing
In this section-by-section commentary on Plato's most important dialogue, Benardete argues that the Republic is such a self-powered, holistic analysis of the beautiful, the good, and the just. This book provides a fresh interpretation of the Republic and a new understanding of philosophy as practiced by Plato and Socrates.
Reviews
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part I - Book I
1. Socrates (327a1-328c4)
2. Cephalus (328c5-331d3)
3. Polemarchus (331d4-336a8)
4. Thrasymachus I (336a9-347a6)
5. Thrasymachus II (347a7-354c3)
Part II - Books II-IV: The Beautiful
6. Glaucon and Adimantus (357a1-368c3)
7. The Two Cities (368c4-373e8)
8. Philosopher-Dogs (373e9-376c6)
9. Education (376c7-378e3)
10. Theology (378e4-383c7)
11. Courage and Moderation (386a1-392c5)
12. Emulation and Imitation (392c6-398b9)
13. Music and Gymnastic (398c1-412b7)
14. The Noble Lie (412b8-417b9)
15. Happiness (419a1-422a3)
16. War and Revolution (422a4-427c5)
17. Justice (427c6-434c6)
18. Leontius (434c7-441c8)
19. Nature and Species (441c9-445e4)
Part III - Books V-VII: The Good
20. The Woman-Drama (449a1-452e3)
21. Equality (452e4-457b6)
22. Communism (457b7-466d5)
23. War (466d6-471c3)
24. Speech and Deed (471c4-474c4)
25. Knowledge and Opinion (474c5-484d10)
26. The Philosophic Nature (485a1-487a6)
27. The Philosopher-King (487a7-502c8)
28. The Good (502c9-506d1)
29. Sun, Line, Cave (506d2-516c3)
30. Ascent and Descent (516c4-521b11)
31. Mathematics and Dialectics (521c1-541b5)
Part IV - Books VIII-X: The Just
32. The Fall (543a1-550c3)
33. Oligarchy (550c4-555b2)
34. Democracy (555b3-562a3)
35. Tyranny (562a4-576b6)
36. The Three Comparisons (576b7-588a11)
37. Poetry (588b1-608b10)
38. Soul (608cl-612b6)
39. The Myth of Er (612b7-621d3)
General Index
Index of Republic Passages Discussed
Introduction
Part I - Book I
1. Socrates (327a1-328c4)
2. Cephalus (328c5-331d3)
3. Polemarchus (331d4-336a8)
4. Thrasymachus I (336a9-347a6)
5. Thrasymachus II (347a7-354c3)
Part II - Books II-IV: The Beautiful
6. Glaucon and Adimantus (357a1-368c3)
7. The Two Cities (368c4-373e8)
8. Philosopher-Dogs (373e9-376c6)
9. Education (376c7-378e3)
10. Theology (378e4-383c7)
11. Courage and Moderation (386a1-392c5)
12. Emulation and Imitation (392c6-398b9)
13. Music and Gymnastic (398c1-412b7)
14. The Noble Lie (412b8-417b9)
15. Happiness (419a1-422a3)
16. War and Revolution (422a4-427c5)
17. Justice (427c6-434c6)
18. Leontius (434c7-441c8)
19. Nature and Species (441c9-445e4)
Part III - Books V-VII: The Good
20. The Woman-Drama (449a1-452e3)
21. Equality (452e4-457b6)
22. Communism (457b7-466d5)
23. War (466d6-471c3)
24. Speech and Deed (471c4-474c4)
25. Knowledge and Opinion (474c5-484d10)
26. The Philosophic Nature (485a1-487a6)
27. The Philosopher-King (487a7-502c8)
28. The Good (502c9-506d1)
29. Sun, Line, Cave (506d2-516c3)
30. Ascent and Descent (516c4-521b11)
31. Mathematics and Dialectics (521c1-541b5)
Part IV - Books VIII-X: The Just
32. The Fall (543a1-550c3)
33. Oligarchy (550c4-555b2)
34. Democracy (555b3-562a3)
35. Tyranny (562a4-576b6)
36. The Three Comparisons (576b7-588a11)
37. Poetry (588b1-608b10)
38. Soul (608cl-612b6)
39. The Myth of Er (612b7-621d3)
General Index
Index of Republic Passages Discussed