{"product_id":"plato-and-aristophanes-marina-marren-9780810144194","title":"Plato and Aristophanes: Comedy, Politics, and the Pursuit of a Just Life","description":"In \u003ci\u003ePlato and Aristophanes\u003c\/i\u003e, Marina Marren contends that our search for communal justice must start with self-examination. The realization that there are things that we cannot know about ourselves unless we become the subject of a joke is integral to such self-scrutiny. Jokes provide a new perspective on our politics and ethics; they are essential to our civic self-awareness. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Marren makes this case by delving into Plato's \u003ci\u003eRepublic\u003c\/i\u003e, a foundational work of political philosophy. While the \u003ci\u003eRepublic \u003c\/i\u003estraightforwardly condemns the decadence and greed of a tyrant, Plato's attack on political idealism is both solemn and comedic. In fact, Plato draws on the same comedic stock and tropes as do Aristophanes's plays. Marren's book strikes up an innovative conversation between three works by Aristophanes--\u003ci\u003eAssembly Women\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eKnights\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eBirds\u003c\/i\u003e--and Plato's philosophy, prompting important questions about individual convictions and one's personal search for justice. These dialogic works offer critiques of tyranny that are by turns brilliant, scathing, and exuberant, making light of faults and ideals alike. Philosophical comedy exposes despotism in individuals as well as systems of government claiming to be just and good. This critique holds as much bite against contemporary injustices as it did at the time of Aristophanes and Plato. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e An ingenious new work by an emerging scholar, \u003ci\u003ePlato and Aristophanes\u003c\/i\u003e shows that comedy--in tandem with philosophy and politics--is essential to self-examination. And without such examination, there is no hope for a just life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Marina Marren\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0810144190\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780810144194\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Northwestern University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/15\/2021\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 144\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.79lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.06h x 5.91w x 0.63d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/01\/2022","brand":"Marina Marren","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":43944786231551,"sku":"9780810144194","price":99.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/products\/img_f1e5652a-6618-461a-841a-e76f811c4692.jpg?v=1681505089","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/plato-and-aristophanes-marina-marren-9780810144194","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}