This book is designed for three classes of people: Beginners who
want an introduction to philosophy; Those who have already had an
introduction to philosophy and who would like to see it in action
now applied to a great book written by a great philosophy, but who
have never read Plato's Republic, the most famous and influential
philosophy book ever written; Those who have read Plato's Republic
before but did not understand its deepest significance. Why is
Plato the best introduction to philosophy? Peter Kreeft has taught
philosophy for over 50 years, including one section of a course for
beginners every semester. He has tried just about everything
possible, and a few new things that are impossible. He has
experimented with every one of the many alternative methods
available for teaching beginners. (He has A.D.D., so he easily gets
bored and likes to try new things all the time.) But he has never
found anything nearly as successful as Plato. Plato is the best
writer in the history of philosophy. Most philosophers are dull,
undramatic, abstract writers. (There are a few other exceptions
besides Plato: Augustine, Pascal, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard.) But
Plato wrote dramatic dialogues, in which Socrates, his famous
teacher, interacts with a great variety of fools. These dialogues
are like intellectual swordfights, and even though you know
Socrates is going to win, they are exciting because you see his
ideas come alive, like a sword in the handoff a master. Plato is a
great dramatist, a great poet, and a great psychologist as well as
a great philosopher. Nobody else who ever lived combined those four
talents as well as Plato did. Apprenticeship to a great master is
the best way to learn any art. The student will understand what
philosophy is better by watching a master do it than by reading
abstract definitions of it from a second-rate philosopher, or by a
mere scholar. Concrete examples are always the easiest way to learn
things. Plato's dialogues are the world's first, and still the
best, concrete example of philosophizing. Kreeft introduces his
students to this love affair through a great matchmaker, Plato, who
is a better teacher than the student will ever meet in the land of
the living. In fact, Plato still is in the land of the living. He's
still alive and kicking in his dialogues. He rubs off on those who
are wise and humble enough to become a student.
General
Imprint: |
St. Augustine's Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
December 2018 |
First published: |
2016 |
Authors: |
Peter Kreeft
|
Dimensions: |
231 x 157 x 15mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover - Cloth over boards
|
Pages: |
128 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-58731-828-3 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
Philosophy >
General
Books >
Philosophy >
General
|
LSN: |
1-58731-828-8 |
Barcode: |
9781587318283 |
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