Poetry and Philosophy (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9783639145007)

This study argues that Aristophanes' Clouds offers a serious critique of Socrates and a coherent two part attack on Socratic philosophy. The first prong of the attack, that Socrates was a natural philosopher, provides the basis for the second prong, the rhetorical charge that Socrates makes the weaker argument the stronger. This rhetorical and scientific understanding of philosophy allows Aristophanes to argue that Socrates undermines the family, traditional religion and morality, Athenian custom, and political health more generally. Plato's Republic is used as the counterpoint to Aristophanes' charges, in which Socrates argues that poetry does not contribute to the correct understanding of the gods or human excellence. Thus, poetry's pedagogy creates flawed human beings, while misunderstanding what is necessary for good citizenship and political health more generally. The final part of the study examines the two notions of political health; the relative rank order of poetry, philosophy, and politics; and the implications of this study for modern politics.

Author: Mischa Beckett
ISBN-10: 3639145003
ISBN-13: 9783639145007
Publisher: VDM Verlag
Language: English
Published: 04/16/2009
Pages: 152
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.51lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.35d