Recovering Reputation

Reviews / Votes

In this lively and thought-provoking study, Avgousti calls attention to the ways in which philosophy is shown to appear to the many in Plato's works, and to how philosophers and non-philosophers alike care about their appearance in the eyes of others. This work showcases Plato's relevance to contemporary debates about honor, demotic power, and the whole field of esteem. * Melissa Lane, Class of 1943 Professor of Politics, Princeton University * In a series of closely observed studies of key parts of several major texts, Avgousti shows that a healthy respect for popular opinion shapes Plato's political philosophy. He does this by tracking the way Plato portrays how characters, including Socrates, and regimes, including the kallipolis, pursue their aims by deftly negotiating, not subduing, the power of the many as arbiter of reputation. The result is a striking argument for approaching Plato as a repository of insight into practical politics. * S. Sara Monoson, Professor of Political Science and Classics, Northwestern University * This insightful book, based on deep readings of Platonic texts, uncovers the seldom acknowledged but pervasive role of reputation that courses through Plato's political dialogues. Attending to the dialogues' minor characters, as well as the contextual myths, practices, and ideologies of ancient Athens, Recovering Reputation, with its focus on the demotic power of reputation, re-orients and expands our understanding of the power of the people. It deserves to be read by all who care about the viability of democracies. * Arlene W. Saxonhouse, Caroline Robbins Collegiate Professor of Political Science and Women's Studies, University of Michigan * This book provides a deeply interesting exploration of the ancient idea of reputation-as-doxa, and does so by offering a series of original and unusually stimulating readings of Apology, Gorgias, Theaetetus, Republic and Laws. In the process, it places itself in serious and even exhaustive conversation with the recent literature. The result is a truly splendid contribution to the study of Plato's political thought. * Peter Steinberger, Robert H. and Blanche Day Ellis Professor of Political Science and Humanities, Reed College * Reputation' combines fashionable opinion with a public registry of social worth. Andreas Avgousti offers here a groundbreaking study of this phenomenon by carefully studying its roots in the ancient Greek idea of doxa and its branches in contemporary politics and theory. * John R. Wallach, Professor of Political Science, Hunter College and The Graduate Center, CUNY * Andreas Avgousti's book is an interesting challenge to this longstanding academic prejudice,...it also refers to honor, fame, rumor, praise, and blame, and has its source in the many. * Etienne Helmer, University of Puerto Rico * Avgousti's remarkable, detailed analysis of Plato's texts illuminates a so far rather hidden topic and opens new perspectives on how we could read the political Plato, in particular on the issue of what it means to be part of the civic space (broadly construed)... As he proposes a 'from bottom to top' approach, Avgousti sheds light on the complexity of Plato's attitude to democracy. * Etienne Helmer, Bryn Mawr Classical Review * Andreas Avgousti's book is an interesting challenge to this longstanding academic prejudice,...it also refers to honor, fame, rumor, praise, and blame, and has its source in the many. * Etienne Helmer, University of Puerto Rico *