{"product_id":"philosopher-kings-of-antiquity-william-desmond-9780826434753","title":"Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity","description":"One of the most celebrated of Plato's ideas was that if human society was ever to function successfully then philosophers would need to become kings, or kings philosophers. In a perfect state, therefore, philosophic wisdom should be wedded to political power. In antiquity, who were or aspired to be philosopher-kings? What was their understanding of wisdom and the limits of knowledge? What influence have they had on periods beyond antiquity? This volume focuses on Plato and his contemporaries; Alexander the Great and his Hellenistic successors; Marcus Aurelius and the 'good emperors'; Moses, Solomon and early Hebrew leaders; and Julian the Apostate, the last of the pagans. In conclusion it looks at the re-emergence of the Platonic ideal in important moments of European history, such as the Enlightenment. The theme of the philosopher-king is significant for Greco-Roman antiquity as a whole, and this work is unique in detailing the development of an idea through major periods of Greek and Roman history, and beyond.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e William Desmond\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0826434754\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780826434753\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Continnuum-3PL\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/29\/2011\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 272\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.23lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.63d","brand":"William Desmond","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":47473939251455,"sku":"9780826434753","price":200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_81a9afe5-7bee-4fac-a822-8a8c5a35df6f.jpg?v=1762313914","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/philosopher-kings-of-antiquity-william-desmond-9780826434753","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}