Taking the critique of writing in the Phaedrus as a starting point, where Socrates argues that a book cannot choose its reader nor can it defend itself against misinterpretation, Reading Plato offers solutions to the problems of interpreting the Platonic dialogues. Thomas A. Slez'ak pursuasively argues that the dialogues are designed to stimulate philosophical inquiry and to elevate philosophy to the realm of oral dialectic.

The different world views of the authors of the Iliad and the Odyssey are illustrated by selection of verses used by both poets. The role of the gods in the Odyssey precludes the tragic conception of human life that is characteristic of the Iliad.

Die durch ,Dialektik' ermöglichte Erkenntnis der Ideenwelt ist die Voraussetzung der von Platon als Ziel der philosophischen Existenz geforderten ,Angleichung an Gott' . So klar die grundlegende Bedeutung der Dialektik ist, so deutlich wird auch die Entscheidung Platons, sie dem Bereich der Mündlichkeit vorzubehalten. Eine zusammenfassende Orientierung über Eigenart, Wege und Arten der Dialektik wird im Dialogwerk nur einmal vom Gesprächspartner gefordert und vom Gesprächsführer sogleich abgelehnt . Gleichwohl erlauben die verstreuten Hinweise der Dialoge, in aller Vorsicht ein Gesamtbild der (...) Dialektik zu entwerfen, was hier in zehn Punkten versucht wird, die u.a. ihre Methodik, ihre Teildisziplinen, ihre Durchführbarkeit und schließlich ihre Selbsttranszendierung in der Ideenschau thematisieren. (shrink)

Die Figur des Dialektikers erscheint in Platons Dialogen unter verschiedenen Namen: 'Sokrates' oder 'Diotima', 'Parmenides' oder 'Gast aus Elea', 'Timaios' oder 'der Athener'. Ungeachtet des Unterschieds der Temperamente, der Rollen und der Situationen führt die Analyse der Art der Gesprächsführung in den späten Dialogen auf ein einheitliches Bild des Dialektikers, das durchaus dem Bild entspricht, das die Analyse der frühen und mittleren Dialoge ergab. Der Dialektiker ist dem aktuell geführten Gespräch stets weit voraus. Er entscheidet souverän, welche Fragen weiterverfolgt, welche (...) bewusst aus dem Gespräch herausgehalten werden. Sein Vorauswissen der Lösungen im aktuellen Gespräch macht es sicher, daß er auch die ausgesparten Fragen mit gleicher Überlegenheit behandeln könnte. Das Ausgesparte aber weist immer auf den Bereich der Prinzipien. Der Sinn dieser meist verkannten Figurenkonzeption ergibt sich aus Platons Kritik der Schriftlichkeit im Phaidros: der Dialektiker ist der Denker, hinter dessen Ausführungen eine weiterführende Prinzipienlehre steht. (shrink)

It is a recurring pattern in Plato´s dialogues that the dialectician leads the discussion to a certain point where he identifies further, more fundamental problems, on which he claims to have his own view, which he does not communicate. Such passages are briefly analyzed from five dialogues. It is shown that this seemingly strange behaviour of the dialectician corresponds exactly to the way a philosopher should behave according to the Phaedrus. The recurring cases of reticence of the leading figure in (...) dialogue have to be understood as Plato´s written reference to his own unwritten philosophy. (shrink)

Are we really at the point of being able to come to terms with Plato’s oral philosophy?

Thomas Alexander shows that the primary, guiding concern of Dewey's philosophy is his theory of aesthetic experience.

The rapid diffusion of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the defence domain raises challenges for the ethical governance of these systems. A recent shift from the what to the how of AI ethics sees a nascent body of literature published by defence organisations focussed on guidance to implement AI ethics principles. These efforts have neglected a crucial intermediate step between principles and guidance concerning the elicitation of ethical requirements for specifying the guidance. In this article, we outline the key normative (...) choices and corresponding tradeoffs that are involved in specifying guidance for the implementation of AI ethics principles in the defence domain. These correspond to: the AI lifecycle model used; the scope of stakeholder involvement; the accountability goals chosen; the choice of auditing requirements; and the choice of mechanisms for transparency and traceability. We provide initial recommendations for navigating these tradeoffs and highlight the importance of a pro-ethical institutional culture. (shrink)

" Our various cultures are symbolic environments or "spiritual ecologies" within which the Human Eros can thrive. This is how we inhabit the earth. Encircling and sustaining our cultural existence is nature.

Revitalization of religious and cultural traditions is taking place in nearly all contemporary Asian societies and beyond. Faith in the Future: Understanding the Revitalization of Religions and Cultural Traditions in Asia provides a comparative analysis of the key features and aspirations of revitalization movements and assesses their scope for shaping the future trajectories of societies in all parts of the world.

American philosophy has been dominated by the theme of "Nature."1 From Edwards to Emerson to Dewey to Dennett, American thought has variously invoked Nature. But to articulate a philosophy of Nature is not thereby to espouse a form of "naturalism." In fact, philosophies undertaken in the name of "naturalism" seem to have a different temperament than those that begin with the thought of Nature as such. As a theme, "Nature" invites an expansive mood for reflection, while "naturalism" sounds constrictive and (...) combative. "Nature" disposes the mind to musement, "pondering," theoria, Denken—to becoming Emerson's "transparent eyeball." "Naturalism" has something of a doctrinal, even dogmatic, flavor, since every "-ism".. (shrink)