Plato

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1 - The Place of Poetry in Plato’s and Aristotle’s Sense

One of the interesting and significant discussions in the history of literary criticism in Greek classical literature is Plato’s oppositions to poetry and Aristotle’s defense of it. Although their assumptions were based on common grounds and both considered art as a t More

One of the interesting and significant discussions in the history of literary criticism in Greek classical literature is Plato’s oppositions to poetry and Aristotle’s defense of it. Although their assumptions were based on common grounds and both considered art as a type of mimesis, but they were not of the same view on the value of poetry and the concept of mimesis. Their special philosophical thought system and genius which undoubtedly shaped and influenced philosophy and literary criticism through decades, has always been open to study and criticism. this article is an attempt to investigate the bases of their intellectual and ideational systems according to which they evaluate poetry. Manuscript profile

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2 - Recalling the Political Philosophy of Historical Socrates/Plato's Socrates
سيدمحمود نجاتي حسيني

Although hard to believe, the distinction between historical Socrates and Plato's Socrates is an issue in the history of political philosophy that has only been marginally dealt with in literature. But the present article makes this issue its focal and central subject. More

Although hard to believe, the distinction between historical Socrates and Plato's Socrates is an issue in the history of political philosophy that has only been marginally dealt with in literature. But the present article makes this issue its focal and central subject. The subject of the article is that, in an in-depth comparison, the political philosophy of Socrates and Plato are both divergent (historical Socrates vs. real Plato) and convergent (Plato's Socrates vs. Socrates' Plato). The starting point of the issue is that through researching and scrutinizing the speeches and writings of Socrates and Plato, one can trace the convergence and divergence in their logos and dialogues. Therefore, semiotics of logo-dialogue of historical Socrates vs. Plato's Socrates, as well as the logo-dialogue of Socrates' Plato vs. real Plato, will lead to the exploration of two basic classical philosophies. This article tries to prove these claims and assumptions through hermeneutic and semiotic analysis. Manuscript profile

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3 - Ērānšahr in Greek works: * With Focus on Plato-Xenophon's Philosophical and Political Works (I)
حاتم قادری

Iranians and the Greek came to have contacts with each other very soon in line with expanding their territories. In spite of the dominance of politico-military aspects, the political and philosophical-religious mutual effects should not be neglected. As far as their ear More

Iranians and the Greek came to have contacts with each other very soon in line with expanding their territories. In spite of the dominance of politico-military aspects, the political and philosophical-religious mutual effects should not be neglected. As far as their early contact concerns, it should be noticed that it was the Greek who were most influenced by Iranians' teachings, and their political and philosophical-religious manners. In the first part of this article the Greek's main speculations, focusing on Athenians, and Iranians' political and philosophical-religious teachings is analysed. Manuscript profile

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4 - Ērānšahr in Greek works*: With Focus on Plato-Xenophon's Philosophical and Political Works (II)
حاتم قادری

Iranians and the Greek came to have contacts with each other very soon in line with expanding their territories. In spite of the dominance of politico-military aspects, the political and the philosophical-religious mutual effects should not be neglected. As far as their More

Iranians and the Greek came to have contacts with each other very soon in line with expanding their territories. In spite of the dominance of politico-military aspects, the political and the philosophical-religious mutual effects should not be neglected. As far as their early contacts concerns, it was the Greeks who were influenced more by Iranians' teachings, and their political and philosophical-religious manners. In the first part of this article the Greeks' main speculations, focusing on Athenians and Iranians' political and philosophical-religious teachings is analyzed. Manuscript profile

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5 - Nature in the Views of Greek and Muslim Philosophers
داود محمدیانی

Undoubtedly, nature has always attracted the attention of scientists and philosophers as the loci of the genesis and growth of natural existents and its current. Scientists working in the field of empirical sciences mainly seek the knowledge of natural existents and law More

Undoubtedly, nature has always attracted the attention of scientists and philosophers as the loci of the genesis and growth of natural existents and its current. Scientists working in the field of empirical sciences mainly seek the knowledge of natural existents and laws of nature, while philosophers basically deal with the knowledge of nature itself and its structure and try to provide an answer to the questions of what the meaning of nature is, what its structure is, what relationship exists between existents and nature, whether nature is the primary source of the appearance of existents in the world, and whether nature, as matter and form, is a cradle for the appearance of various forms of existents. Greek philosophers and, later, Muslim philosophers have provided various responses to these questions. In ancient Greek philosophy, physis or nature means growth, living, and life. This meaning, which had provided the basis for pre-Socratic philosophy, changed into the “content of the world” and “maker of things” in Stoic philosophy. Plato also defined physis as the origin of the appearance of all things. He used the words technē (art) and archē (origin) to explain the emergence of the world and considered the creation of the world as an artistic innovation. Aristotle, who viewed the world synonymous with the whole nature, believed that nature is the source of motion and change in things; however, Muslim thinkers have provided various ideas about nature. Ikhwān al-Ṣafā maintained that nature is the fifth level of the levels of being and the “active” aspect of the world, with matter as its passive aspect. Ibn Sīnā considered nature and the interactions therein as God’s act and believed that nature is the cause of the appearance of corporeal substance by synthesizing matter and form. Unlike the Peripatetics, who believed that archetypes are the same as the nature of things, Suhrawardī rejected archetypes and replaced them with luminary nature. Finally, Mullā Ṣadrā viewed the world of nature identical with renewal and change and maintained that the nature of substance enjoys permanent motion and flow. Manuscript profile

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6 - Middle Platonism: Introduction and Analysis of Religious and Philosophical Theorems
Mahbobeh Hadina

Middle Platonism is one of the most important philosophical-religious schools of the first century BC. While claiming to revive the original Platonic school, it is rooted in the fundamental epistemological and philosophical theorems of that time including the essence of More

Middle Platonism is one of the most important philosophical-religious schools of the first century BC. While claiming to revive the original Platonic school, it is rooted in the fundamental epistemological and philosophical theorems of that time including the essence of the One, God as Creator, descent of the soul, rational knowledge, and salvation. A study of middle Platonists’ works reveals that the philosophical principles of this school are mainly based on a reinterpretation of certain religious-philosophical theorems of Platonic, Stoic, Pythagorean, and gnostic schools. In fact, a clear trace of the concern for explaining the problem of the oneness and transcendence of the essence of Almighty, the quality of the creation of the world, and the presence of evil therein can be witnesses in the works of the philosophers that advocate the mentioned schools. The fundamental principles of middle Platonism are basically religious, and this school is mainly concerned with such topics as the duality of the essence of divinity in two concepts, God as the Maker or Creator of the world, the duality of the spiritual and material origin of Man and the descent of the soul, cosmology and the material structure and fate of the world, eschatology with an emphasis on the theorem of Man’s salvation through rational knowledge, and finally the discussion of ethics and the definition of its practical frameworks for attaining rational perfection, which is necessary for salvation. The present paper aims to explain and provide a comparative analysis of the principles and quality of the formation of the philosophical theorems of Middle Platonism as a philosophical-religious school. Manuscript profile

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7 - Exploration of Philosophical Foundations of Preservation of Law and its Educational Implications in viewpoints of Plato and Kant

The paper attempts to answer two questions based on the thoughts of Plato and Kant concerning the issue of law preservation. The first question refers to the foundation of law obedience and the second one concerns the educational implication of it. The method of deducti More

The paper attempts to answer two questions based on the thoughts of Plato and Kant concerning the issue of law preservation. The first question refers to the foundation of law obedience and the second one concerns the educational implication of it. The method of deduction is used in this study and in order to find the similarities and differences of the two philosophers' views the method of comparative analysis is used. Both philosophers define law preservation as the absolute obedience of law. The two aims of law preservation include: a) obedience of law in practice and b) scholarly discussion for the reformation of law. The two philosophers agree on three principles: awareness of law contents, awareness of necessity of law obedience, and the critical view to the laws and their contents. In addition, Plato holds two other principles: respecting the law and the absolute priority of law obedience and Kant holds the principle of reflection and discussion. Educational methods based on these principles are: explanation of legislation necessity in curriculum, presentation of practical models on obedience of educational rules, performing open sessions for discussion and reforming school and class rules and regulations based on the above-mentioned principles. Manuscript profile

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8 - An Investigation of Paul Hirst's View of Religious Education Based on Plato's Theory of Virtuous Education

Hirst, the contemporary analytical thinker, considers the religious education impossible; because he believes that it is a compulsory education and thus it will deprive the student of the opportunity to live a critical and creative life, therefore, it is meaningless and More

Hirst, the contemporary analytical thinker, considers the religious education impossible; because he believes that it is a compulsory education and thus it will deprive the student of the opportunity to live a critical and creative life, therefore, it is meaningless and impedes the student's intellectual development. According to Hirst, the goal of education is to liberate the mind from all that excludes the mind from its particular function, rationality, the liberation of thought and action of human from error and without any external necessity. This is the virtuous cultivation that goes back to Plato. Given that virtuous cultivation requires a kind of rationality, there is no difference between Plato and Hirst; however, Plato did not devote himself in any of his works to the virtuous cultivation of religious education, but has always identified virtue-based education at a lower level of religious education. Their difference is in accordance with their validities, and the contrast between them is in a vertical relation, because according to Platonic metaphysics, virtue-based education, with the exception of religion, will end the evolutionary process. On the other hand, the result of rejecting religious education and accepting the plurality of cultures in Hirst's theory of education is a negation to the educational principles. From the point of view of Plato, when a conflict occurs among the principles of education, it is necessary to derive non-experimental and non-deductive principles for education from intuitive judgments; the principles that have been neglected in Hirst's theory of education. Manuscript profile

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9 - Philanthropia in Ancient Greece and its Relationship with Paideia
Majid Mollayousefi Maryam Samadieh

The present paper investigates the relationship between philanthropia and paideia based on the texts of classical Greece. The term “philanthropia” was first used in a play called Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus and was later used repeatedly in some of the literary and phi More

The present paper investigates the relationship between philanthropia and paideia based on the texts of classical Greece. The term “philanthropia” was first used in a play called Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus and was later used repeatedly in some of the literary and philosophical works of the Classical Greece. In this play, philanthropy has been attributed to Prometheus because he stole fire from Zeus to give it to human beings and save them from destruction. In the comedy Peace by Aristophanes, the god Hermes has been introduced as philanthropist because he makes it possible for the humankind to access peace. In Isocrates’ speech, the term philanthropist is applied to political leaders and people who posses the highest level of virtues and share such gifts as knowledge with others. Moreover, in the fourth book of Laws, Plato introduces Cronos a philanthropist because, during his reign, he tried to consolidate the pillars of culture and civilization in society. In the dialogue Euthyphro, Socrates considers himself to be a philanthropist because he shares his knowledge with others. As attested by Aristotle, philanthropia is an essential and intrinsic quality; however, it develops a knowledge-based form through paideia. On the other hand, those existents who are called philanthropists try to develop paideia and spread it in their society. Manuscript profile

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10 - Spiritual Journey Based on Dialectical Wayfaring in Plato’s Philosophy and its Compatibility with Gnostic Journeys
Atiye Zandieh Leila Eftekhari

In Plato’s philosophy and Islamic gnostic tradition, the world and Man enjoy two corporeal and spiritual dimensions. Man’s spiritual dimension can have ascending and descending journeys in the worlds of being. In Islamic gnosis, going through the levels of being – the f More

In Plato’s philosophy and Islamic gnostic tradition, the world and Man enjoy two corporeal and spiritual dimensions. Man’s spiritual dimension can have ascending and descending journeys in the worlds of being. In Islamic gnosis, going through the levels of being – the five divine presences – has been explained by resorting to the four-fold journeys, which include moving from the creature to the truth, traversing the truth, moving from the truth to the creature and, finally, travelling with the truth in the creature. The spiritual journey in Plato’s philosophy can be explained by using the dialectical wayfaring, analogy of the divided line, and the allegory of the cave. Plato generally dealt with this spiritual journey and did not intend to classify its levels. However, his views can be formulated in a way to conform to these four journeys. In this way, spiritual journey in Plato’s philosophy will include the following four stages: moving from shadows to the world of Ideas, traveling through the Ideas, moving from the world of Ideas to the world of sensibles and, finally, traveling with the Ideas in shadows. Therefore, given the differences between these two schools of thought regarding their views of the highest levels of being and the perfect Man, the first, second, and fourth journeys can be more clearly matched with each other. The third journey can also be matched with one of them but not as clearly as the other three. Gnostics’ religious views, their emphasis on ascetic practice and purification of the soul, and the long time interval between these two systems of thought have resulted in a number of great differences between them. Manuscript profile

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11 - Platonic and Aristotelean Roots of the Concept of Time in Islamic Philosophy
Seyed Mohammad Moosavi Baygi Mohammad Amin Afzalzadeh

Time is one of the most important features of the world of matter, and the knowledge of which has always attracted the attention of philosophers. The simplicity of perception of time and the difficulty of its explanation have resulted in some disagreements among philoso More

Time is one of the most important features of the world of matter, and the knowledge of which has always attracted the attention of philosophers. The simplicity of perception of time and the difficulty of its explanation have resulted in some disagreements among philosophers concerning its definition. Islamic philosophers are no exception in this regard, and the roots of their disagreements go back to Plato’s and Aristotle’s different definitions of time. Plato defined time as a self-subsistent and essentially independent substance that is a differentiated form of the world of Ideas. In Aristotle’s view, time represents the number of motion from its priority and posteriority aspects, which cannot be gathered with each other. While acknowledging the difference between these two definitions, Islamic philosophers have usually chosen one of these definitions and tried to respond to the suspicions about their selected definition and reject the arguments in favor of the opposing one. Some philosophers such as Ibn Rushd, Ibn Sīnā, and Suhrawardī adopted Aristotle’s definition, while Zakarīyyā Rāzī and Fakhr al-Dīn Rāzī advocated Plato’s definition. Nevertheless, no effort as to demonstrating the contrast between Aristotelean and Platonic definitions of time is justified because both philosophers believe that although time is different from motion, their existences are inseparable from each other. In other words, the perception of one depends on the perception of the other. accordingly, the present paper, while clarifying Plato’s view, initially intends to explain that it is not in contrast to Aristotle’s view and, secondly, aims to demonstrate the effects of their view on those of Muslim philosophers. Manuscript profile

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12 - A Study of the Historical Development of the Notion of Platonic-Aristotelean Agape and Love in Fārābī and Ṭūsī (In the Realm of Human Relationships)
Fereshteh Abolhassani Niaraki

The present study provides a description and analysis of the historical development of the notion of Aristotelean-Platonic agape (love) in the philosophical thoughts of Fārābī and Khwājah Nasīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī. Following a historical method, the author deals with the reason More

The present study provides a description and analysis of the historical development of the notion of Aristotelean-Platonic agape (love) in the philosophical thoughts of Fārābī and Khwājah Nasīr al-Dīn Ṭūsī. Following a historical method, the author deals with the reasons behind this development in addition to describing it. The discussion of friendship (agape) in Aristotle’s philosophy is propounded in his Nichomachean Ethics, where some traces of Platonic notion are also observable. This discussion was transformed in Islamic Philosophy in certain respects, including the variety of the beloved (and the most beloved), individualistic or socialist aspect, and selfishness or selflessness aspect. Regarding the variety of the beloved, the discussion has moved from virtue-based friendship (agape) to the love of the Wise (God). As to its range, one can observe a change of dialog form social-political friendship to agape as an internal characteristic with individual and social effects. Moreover, it has moved beyond selfishness and selflessness and, in conformity with the principle of congruence, reached the love from Him (Godly). The influential views of such thinkers as Plotinus; the role of religion, culture, and gnosis, and the ideas of Ibn Sīnā, Ibn Miskawayh, and Suhrawardī are of great importance in explaining this development. The particular philosophical and Kalāmī principles of Fārābī and Ṭūsī as well as some of their ethical views are the most important factors in the interpretation of the underlying reasons of the mentioned development. Manuscript profile

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13 - An Interpretation of the Dialogue of Laws from the Viewpoint of Leo Strauss Based on Fārābī’s Treatise of Talkhīṣ al-Nawāmīs
Havva Jami Seyed Mohammad Hakkak Qazvini Ali Naghi Baghershahi Shervin Moghimi Zanjani

Presently, historicism is the dominant approach in interpreting philosophical traditions. This approach considers each science, particularly philosophy, to be in some way related to the specific lifetime of thinkers. Within this framework, historicist interpreters exami More

Presently, historicism is the dominant approach in interpreting philosophical traditions. This approach considers each science, particularly philosophy, to be in some way related to the specific lifetime of thinkers. Within this framework, historicist interpreters examine Plato’s works in relation to four different periods, with the dialogue of Laws belonging to the latest period of his life, indicating a change in his approach. However, in opposition to any kind of historicist view, Leo Strauss disagrees with this division and believes that there is no change of direction in Plato’s overall philosophy – from the first to the last dialogue – and all of them address philosophical problems from a specific standpoint. We encounter this comprehensive approach also in Strauss’ reading of the dialogue of Laws. In fact, Strauss believes that, in order to grasp a real understanding of the dialogue of Laws, one must follow his method and consider Fārābī’s interpretation of this work in Talkhīṣ al-nawāmīs as a basis. Strauss also maintains that it is the only way through which one can go beyond the limits of historical interpretation. While providing a brief discussion of the historical interpretation of the Laws, the purpose of the present study is to examine Fārābī’s interpretation of the dialogue of Laws, Strauss’ critique and view of this interpretation, and the most distinctive features of Strauss’ innovative interpretation of this dialogue. Manuscript profile

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