scholarly journals Supremacy of theoretical thought over practical thought in Plato's political philosophy

Author(s):  
Ilya Erokhov

Based on the example of Plato’s political philosophy, this article explores the phenomenon of supremacy of theoretical thought over practical thought, which is a universal trait of the classical Ancient Greek philosophical systems. The first part of the articled indicates the conceptual similarity of the two-level systems of knowledge of Plato and Aristotle in the role that theory plays in relation to practical thought. The second part of the article reconstructs the concept of Plato's philosophy of politics, outlines the key political strategies he dealt with, and provides analytical reconstruction of the democratic theory of politics, oligarchic and civil-political, where the latter is the reflection of Plato’s original political views. The final part is dedicated to the method of Plato's political philosophy. Analysis of the context of using the term “theory” by Plato allows reconstructing the key methodological characteristic of Plato's model of theoretical philosophy. The article also provides the typology of practical knowledge, and substantiates the reasons according to which the political philosophy, as one of the types of practical knowledge, had to adhere to the theoretical prescriptions that fully determined the content of political reflection. The paper reveals the central practical task of philosophical theory, which by Plato's plan was intended to cease the political strife in Athens using true knowledge. The thesis is substantiated that using theory, Plato sought to complete the history of practical politics and subsequently shift towards building the “ideal state” based on the laws that are mandatory for all citizens of the polis. The article also discloses the principles of complex interrelation of the three Socratic methods: irony, dialectics and maieutics, which in Plato's political philosophy manifested as a single complex method. It is demonstrated that the method fulfills a bonding function between theory and practice, which allows transferring the theoretical truth to the sphere of practical problems of politics.

Author(s):  
Christopher Bobonich

The dialogues that are most obviously important for Plato’s political philosophy include: the Apology, the Crito, the Gorgias, the Laws, the Republic, and the Statesman. Further, there are many questions of political philosophy that Plato discusses in his dialogues. These topics include, among others: (1) the ultimate ends of the city’s laws and institutions; (2) who should rule, the forms of constitution, and their ranking; (3) what institutions and offices there should be; (4) the nature and extent of citizens’ obligation to obey the laws; (5) the proper criterion of citizenship; (6) the political and social status of women; (7) the purposes of punishment; (8) private property; and (9) slavery. This chapter attempts to provide an overall picture of Plato’s political philosophy, focusing on three moments: the “Socratic” dialogues, including the Apology and the Crito; the great middle-period work, the Republic, along with the Phaedo; and finally, two works from Plato’s last period, the Statesman and the Laws.


1913 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. McIlwain

At the meeting of the Political Science Association last year, in the general discussion, on the subject of the recall, I was surprised and I must admit, a little shocked to hear our recall of judges compared to the English removal of judges on address of the houses of parliament.If we must compare unlike things, rather than place the recall beside the theory or the practice of the joint address, I should even prefer to compare it to a bill of attainder.In history, theory and practice the recall as we have it and the English removal by joint address have hardly anything in common, save the same general object.Though I may not (as I do not) believe in the recall of judges, this paper concerns itself not at all with that opinion, but only with the history and nature of the tenure of English judges, particularly as affected by the possibility of removal on address. I believe a study of that history will show that any attempt to force the address into a close resemblance to the recall, whether for the purpose of furthering or of discrediting the latter, is utterly misleading.In the history of the tenure of English judges the act of 12 and 13 William III, subsequently known as the Act of Settlement, is the greatest landmark. The history of the tenure naturally divides into two parts at the year 1711. In dealing with both parts, for the sake of brevity, I shall confine myself strictly to the judges who compose what since 1873 has been known as the supreme court of judicature.


2013 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 587-604
Author(s):  
Anthony Parel

AbstractMachiavelli's argument in chapter 25 of The Prince for resisting Fortune is no longer persuasive. The reason is that it is based on the outmoded Ptolemaic cosmology. With that cosmology long discarded, it is time to discard the political philosophy based on it. But discarding the political philosophy does not mean discarding the chapter. On the contrary, we should study the chapter with renewed diligence as part of the history of Machiavelli's political philosophy. The distinction between his political philosophy and the history of his political philosophy is critical here.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-125
Author(s):  
Anton Andreev ◽  
◽  
Daria Pravdiuk

The activities of the Third (Communist) International left a noticeable mark on the political history of Latin America. His ideological, organizational legacy remains a factor in shaping the theory and practice of contemporary leftist governments in the region. This article examines the impact of the legacy of the Comintern on international processes in Latin America, the development of integration projects, foreign policy projects of the left forces of the region. On the basis of archival documents, media materials, documents of parties and governments, the authors show which of the foreign policy guidelines of the Comintern are relevant for the region in the 21st century.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-190
Author(s):  
V. Bradley Lewis

This paper suggests an alternative account of the political character of Plato’s political philosophy. After pointing toward some problems of the common developmental paradigm, which emphasizes discontinuities between Plato’s Socratic early writings, the mature utopianism of the Republic, and the late pessimism of the Laws, it proposes that Plato’s two large constructive works, the Republic and Laws, are related to two actual historical events in which Plato played a role, the trial of Socrates and Plato’s failed intervention in Sicilian politics. On this view, the Republic is to the Apology of Socrates as the Laws is to the Seventh Letter. The Republic is an imaginative reconstruction of the sort of defense of philosophy under more favorable conditions than obtained in the actual trial; the Laws is an imaginative reconstruction of the sort of political reform that Plato advocated under more favorable conditions than obtained in Syracuse under Dionysius II. The paper suggests this as the basis of a unified interpretation of Plato’s political philosophy. 



2014 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Paul

AbstractAlthough the Greek concept ofkairos (καιρός)has undergone a recent renewal of interest among scholars of Renaissance rhetoric, this revival has not yet been paralleled by its reception into the history of political thought. This article examines the meanings and uses of this important concept within the ancient Greek tradition, particularly in the works of Isocrates and Plutarch, in order to understand how it is employed by two of the most important political thinkers of the sixteenth century: Thomas Elyot and Niccolò Machiavelli. Through such an investigation this paper argues that an appreciation of the concept ofkairosand its use by Renaissance political writers provides a fuller understanding of the political philosophy of the period.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Ylber Aliu

<pre><em>The purpose of this study is to identify the similarities and differences between the political philosophy of<br />Plato and political philosophy of Aristotle. Such comparative study is very important for political<br />thought in general. The main significance of this paper is the precise meaning of the political philosophy<br />of Plato and political philosophy of Aristotle, as well as the meaning of differences and similarities.<br />Often, Plato’s political ideas appear as Aristotle political ideas, and Aristotle’s political ideas appear as<br />Plato’s political ideas. The main method of study in this paper is the comparison method. The ancient<br />political debate between Plato and Aristotle is important to modern political philosophy as it is the basis<br />of modern political theories. The data for paper are taken from the books of these two authors. The<br />political philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, although they have similarities in some points, but differ in<br />many other issues, such as: different categories of political analysis, different methodologies of policy<br />study, and different reasons for state creation, different opinions why democracy is a bad form of<br />government and why aristocracy is the right form.</em></pre>


Author(s):  
С.М. Марчукова

В методологии современного педагогического исследования принципы герменевтического круга и герменевтической спирали, с одной стороны, способствуют пониманию конкретного знания после предварительного ознакомления с тенденциями развития абстрактного научно-теоретического знания, с другой стороны, способны стать основными структурными элементами, связывающими педагогическую науку и практику (В. В. Краевский). В статье обоснована актуальность использования герменевтического метода для раскрытия эвристического потенциала философско-образовательного проекта Я. А. Коменского, его связи с философской традицией, основы которой заложены в философии и педагогике античности и средневековья. Использование метода герменевтический спирали, «витки» которой отражают связь наследия Коменского с педагогической мыслью этих эпох, позволяет понять, что методология комениологических исследований опирается не на педагогический опыт XVII века, а на фундаментальные основания педагогической науки. Современное осмысление места философско-образовательного проекта Коменского в контексте истории науки и образования способствует соединению двух линий в комениологических исследованиях — педагогической и психологической (Днепров, 1997), развитию эвристического и прогностического аспектов историко-педагогического знания (В. Г. Безрогов, Б. М. Бим-Бад, М. В. Богуславский, Э. Д. Днепров, И. А. Колесникова, Г. Б. Корнетов, А. С. Степанова и др.). В статье приведены примеры изучения трудов Я. А. Коменского разных лет с помощью принципов герменевтического круга и герменевтической спирали. Историко-научный контекст, позволяющий иллюстрировать ретроспективу тенденций дифференциации и интеграции в истории развития образования, определяет новизну исследования. Выявление «эвристичности герменевтического круга» (Ю. С. Сенько) для становления нового педагогического мышления и развития гуманитарного аспекта педагогических технологий составляет теоретическую и практическую значимость исследования для системы высшего педагогического образования и практики работы школы. Раскрытие эвристического потенциала философско-образовательного проекта Я. А. Коменского призвано способствовать развитию отечественной комениологии как одного из фундаментальных направлений историко-педагогической науки. The principles of the hermeneutic cycle and the hermeneutic spiral typical of modern pedagogical research ensure acquisition of practical knowledge through abstract, theoretical cognition and function as structural elements that secure connections between pedagogical theory and practice (V. V. Krayevsky). The article accounts for the relevance of employing the hermeneutic method to unveil the heuristic potential of J. A. Comenius’s philosophical and educational project, to highlight its rootedness in ancient and medieval philosophy and pedagogy. Employing the method of the hermeneutic spiral, whose turns highlight the connections between J. A. Comenius’ legacy and ancient and medieval pedagogy, one can realize that the methodology of comeniological research rests on the fundamental principles of pedagogy rather than on the principles of pedagogy of the 17th century. The modern interpretation of J. A. Comenius’ philosophical and educational project in the context of history of science and education contributes to the integration of pedagogical and psychological aspects of comeniological research (Dneprov, 1997), facilitates the development of the heuristic and prognostic aspects of history of pedagogy (V. G. Bezrogov, B. M. Bim-Bad, M. V. Boguslavsky, E. D. Dneprov, I. A. Kolesnikova, G. B. Kornetov, A. S. Stepanova and others). The article focuses on the application of the principles of the hermeneutic cycle and the hermeneutic spiral to the investigation of J. A. Comenius’s works. The novelty of the research is accounted for by the fact that the tendencies of differentiation and integration are viewed through the prism of historical context. The theoretical significance and the practical value of the research consist in the investigation of the heuristic potential of the hermeneutic cycle (Yu. S. Senko) for modern pedagogical thinking and further humanization of pedagogical technologies. The investigation of the heuristic potential of J. A. Comenius’ philosophical and educational project ensures the development of Russian comeniology as a branch of history of pedagogy


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (04) ◽  
pp. 325-340
Author(s):  
David Barnett

In this article David Barnett documents a practice-as-research project that employed Brechtian approaches to stage dramatic material. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a realist text in which the protagonist, John Proctor, redeems himself for the sin of adultery by taking a heroic stand against the Salem witch-hunts. Existing scholarship has revealed a series of gendered biases in the form and content of the play, yet these findings have never been systematically realized in performance. While appearing to defend democratic values, the play’s dramaturgical strategies coerce agreement, and this represents a fundamental contradiction. Brecht offers a method that preserves the written dialogue, but interprets it critically onstage, deploying a range of devices derived from a materialist and dialectical interpretation. The aim of the production was to re-present a play with a familiar production history and problematize the political bases on which it conventionally rested. The article discusses the rationale for the theory and practice of contemporary Brechtian theatre and offers the production as a model for future critical realizations of other realist plays. David Barnett is Professor of Theatre at the University of York. His publications include A History of the Berliner Ensemble (CUP, 2015), Brecht in Practice: Theatre, Theory and Performance (Bloomsbury, 2014), amd Rainer Werner Fassbinder and the German Theatre (CUP, 2005).


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