The Heirs of Plato: A Study of the Old Academy (347-274 BC) - Brossura

Dillon, John

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0199279462 ISBN 13: 9780199279463

Casa editrice: Clarendon Press, 2005

Riassunto

The Heirs of Plato is the first book exclusively devoted to an in-depth study of the various directions in philosophy taken by Plato's followers in the first seventy years or so following his death in 347 BC. - the period generally known as 'The Old Academy'. Speusippus, Xenocrates, and Polemon, the three successive heads of the Academy in this period, though personally devoted to the memory of Plato, were independent philosophers in their own right, and felt free to develop his heritage in individual directions. This is also true of other personalities attached to the school, such as Philippus of Opus, Heraclides of Pontus, and Crantor of Soli.
After an introductory chapter on the school itself, and a summary of Plato's philosophical heritage, John Dillon devotes a chapter to each of the school heads, and another to the other chief characters, exploring both what holds them together and what sets them apart. There is a final short chapter devoted to the turn away from dogmatism to scepticism under Arcesilaus in the 270s, and some reflections on the intellectual debt of Stoicism to the thought of Polemon, in particular.
Dillon's clear and accessible book fills a significant gap in our understanding of Plato's immediate philosophical influence, and will be of great value to scholars and historians of ancient philosophy.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

a welcome contribution, addressing a critical juncture in the study of ancient philosophy...Overall there is a pleasant, well-digested feel to the book, in spite of the thorny philosophical problems that occupy its pages. Dillon has put us in his debt for many years to come. (David Robertson, Classical World)

Dillon deserves hig praise for having tendered such a clear, concise and diligent account. (Mark J. Edwards, Archiv fur Geschichte der Philosophie d)

Review from previous edition Dillon's book [contains a] wealth of information and systematic analysis. Classicists and philosophers will learn a great deal from reading it. Also, they will probably enjoy Dillon's clear and often witty prose, as I did. (Voula Tsouna, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews)

Contenuti:

• 1 The Riddle of the Academy
• A: The Physical Structure of the Academy
• B: Plato's Intellectual Legacy
• 2. Speusippus and the Search for an Adequate System of Principles
• A: Life and Works
• B: Philosophy
• 3. Xenocrates and the Systematization of Platonism
• A: Life and Works
• B: Philosophy
• 4. Polemon, Champion of Ethical Praxis
• A: Life and Works
• B: Philosophy
• 5. Minor Figures
• A: Philippus of Opus
• B: Hermodorus of Syracuse
• C: Heraclides of Pontus
• D: Crantor of Soli
• E: Conclusion
• 6. Epilogue: Arcesilaus and the Turn to Scepticism

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Clarendon Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0199279462
• ISBN 13: 9780199279463
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 260