Virtues of Authenticity

About this book

The eminent philosopher and classical scholar Alexander Nehamas presents here a collection of his most important essays on Plato and Socrates. The papers are unified in theme by the idea that Platos central philosophical concern in metaphysics ethics and aesthetics was to distinguish the authentic from the fake the original from its imitations. In approach the collection displays Nehamass characteristic combination of analytical rigor and sensitivity to the literary form and dramatic effect of Platos work. Together the papers represent Nehamass distinct and original contributions to scholarship on Plato and Socrates and serve as a comprehensive introduction to the thought of these two philosophers. In the books opening section Nehamas discusses Platos representation of Socrates as a model of authentic human goodness showing that Platos Socrates is a more skeptical troubling and individualistic thinker than is usually supposed. The papers in the second section form a sustained defense of a new and important understanding of Platos theory of the forms and the evolution of that theory in Platos later writings. The third section examines Platos contention that popular entertainment--by which he meant Greek epic and tragic poetry--misleads its audience into a debased life an argument Nehamas relates to modern anxieties about television and other forms of popular culture. The collection also includes a discussion of Platos use of the dialogue form in his representation of Socrates and carefully examines the combination of literary and philosophical elements in his work. Nehamas argues in the book that Platos specific judgments of what is authentic are often flawed but that his idea of authenticity as the mark of truth beauty and goodness is stronger than many modern scholars have assumed. In drawing together Nehamass many influential ideas about Plato and Socrates Virtues of Authenticity is a major contribution to the study of ancient Greek philosophy.