
Plato's Erotic World
From Cosmic Origins to Human Death
Jill Gordon(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 13. August 2012
Book
Hardback
254 pages
978-1-107-02411-3 (ISBN)
Description
Plato's entire fictive world is permeated with philosophical concern for Eros, well beyond the so-called erotic dialogues. Several metaphysical, epistemological and cosmological conversations - Timaeus, Cratylus, Parmenides, Theaetetus and Phaedo - demonstrate that Eros lies at the root of the human condition and that properly guided Eros is the essence of a life well lived. This book presents a holistic vision of Eros, beginning with the presence of Eros at the origin of the cosmos and the human soul, surveying four types of human self-cultivation aimed at good guidance of Eros and concluding with human death as a return to our origins. The book challenges conventional wisdom regarding the 'erotic dialogues' and demonstrates that Plato's world is erotic from beginning to end: the human soul is primordially erotic and the well-cultivated erotic soul can best remember and return to its origins, its lifelong erotic desire.
Reviews / Votes
"...The book provides a clear interpretation of the role of eros in these dialogues; additionally it helps to situate the place of homosocial relations and activities such as war and gymnastics in relation to Plato's conception of philosophy. This is a well-written analysis and interpretation that brings together the cultural and philosophical dimensions of eros in Plato's thought.... Recommended..."--C. R. McCall, Elmira College, CHOICE
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
568 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-107-02411-3 (9781107024113)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
11/2014
Cambridge University Press
€48.90
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
08/2012
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€29.49
Available for download

E-Book
08/2012
Cambridge University Press
€25.49
Available for download
Person
Jill Gordon is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Philosophy at Colby College, Maine. She is the author of Turning Toward Philosophy: Literary Device and Dramatic Structure in Plato's Dialogues (1999).
Content
Introduction; 1. Cosmos; 2. Questioning; 3. Courage; 4. Matchmaking; 5. Self-knowledge; 6. Memory.