The Genesis of Plato's Thought: Second Edition

It is often said that to understand Plato we must understand his times. Many readers who might accept without question this saying of historical criticism may still wonder why we should think it necessary to begin our enquiry as far back as Homer and beyond. In the case of Plato there is an even greater need to pursue the argument back to the very beginnings of the historical period in which he lived and worked. It is quite impossible to understand the genesis of Plators"s ideas without understanding the profound change that Greek society underwent in the post-Homeric period that preceded him. This change in social structure created a mercantile, progressive Greek society, one which laid the foundations for all the subsequent history of Europe and the West. The Genesis of Plators"s Thought is particularly highly regarded because it departs vigorously from the traditional abstract, static view of Plators"s thought. Winspearrs"s volume on Plators"s thought traces, in a realistic fashion, the deep-reaching social and economic roots of Plators"s concept of the state and society. Winspear believes that nowhere can the social roots of philosophy be more sharply seen and more firmly apprehended than when one is dealing with the origins of Western philosophy among the Greeks. His book contains the body of information which any reader should have if they wish to approach Plato as a historical figure. To make the book useful to a wide circle of readers, brief biographical identifications for the various important figures of Greek life are introduced in the text.Alban Dewes Winspear was professor of philosophy at North Shore College in North Vancouver, Canada. He is the author of Lucretius and Scientific Thought , Augustus and the Reconstruction of Roman Government and Society , and Who Was Socrates?Tony Preus is professor of philosophy at Binghamton University. His areas of research include ancient Greek philosophy and medical ethics. He is the author of numerous book chapters and scholarly articles.

Alban Dewes Winspear was professor of philosophy at North Shore College in North Vancouver, Canada. He is the author of Lucretius and Scientific Thought, Augustus and the Reconstruction of Roman Government and Society, and Who Was Socrates? Anthony Preus is professor of philosophy at Binghamton University. His areas of research include ancient Greek philosophy and medical ethics. He is the author of numerous book chapters and scholarly articles.