Death and immortality in late Neoplatonism:studies on the ancient commentaries on Plato's Phaedo
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Main Authors: | |
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Published: |
Brill,
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Publisher Address: | Boston |
Publication Dates: | 2011. |
Literature type: | Book |
Language: | English |
Series: |
Ancient Mediterranean and medieval texts and contexts ; v. 12 |
Subjects: | |
Item Description: | Phaedo. |
Carrier Form: | vii, 223 p.: ; 25 cm. |
ISBN: |
9789004207172 (hardcover : acid-free paper) 9004207171 (hardcover : acid-free paper) |
Index Number: | B502 |
CLC: | B502.232 |
Call Number: | B502.232/G384 |
Contents: |
Includes bibliographical references and index. Introduction -- Olympiodorus on suicide -- Politics and purification in Socrates' second defence (Phd. 63b-69e) -- Syrianus and Damascius: two interpretations of the argument from opposites in Plato's Phaedo (Phd. 69e-72d) -- Memory, forgetfulness and recollection in the Phaedo Commentaries -- The affinity argument in Plato's Phaedo -- The final argument in Plato's Phaedo -- Immortality and afterlife in the Phaedo myth -- General conclusions. "The belief in the immortality of the soul has been described as one of the "twin pillars of Platonism" and is famously defended by Socrates in Plato's Phaedo. The ancient commentaries on the dialogue by Olympiodorus and Damascius offer a unique perspective on the reception of this belief in the Platonic tradition. Through a detailed discussion of topics such as suicide, the life of the philosopher and arguments for immortality, this study demonstrates the commentators' serious engagement with problems in Platos text as well as the dialogue's importance to Neoplatonic ethics. The book will be of interest to students of Plato and the Platonic tradition, and to those working on ancient ethics and psychology."--Publisher's website. |