eBook - PDF

Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity

Name: Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity
ISBN: 9781441108821

William Desmond,

272 pages
English
PDF
Available on iOS & Android

eBook - PDF

Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity

William Desmond,

About this book

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.

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Yes, you can access Philosopher-Kings of Antiquity by William Desmond in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & Ancient History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.