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The City-State of the Soul

Constituting the Self in Plato's Republic

Kevin Crotty

The City-State of the Soul: Self-Constitution in Plato’s Republicexplores Plato’s idea that the moral life consists in the founding of one’s own soul. This insight is central to the long argument of the Republic and, in particular, to the complex relation between the city and the human soul. This fruitful picture of the moral life, however, has not received the attention it deserves.

As Kevin M. Crotty argues, Plato’s distinctive insight is that justice is above all a creative force. Plato presents justice not as a relation amongst fully formed individuals, but rather as the quality that galvanizes a diverse welter of disparate parts into a coherent entity (above all, a soul or a city). Justice, then, is the virtue most closely associated with being—the source of its philosophical stature.

Plato presents a conception of justice meant to impress the young, bright and ambitious as a noble pursuit, and a task worthy of their best talents. The City-State of the Soul is written for anyone interested in the Republic, including but not limited to students and scholars of ancient philosophy, political philosophy, ethics, and ancient Greek literature.

Lexington Books

Pages: 280 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-4985-3461-1 • Hardback • April 2016 • $129.00 • (£99.00)

978-1-4985-3462-8 • eBook • April 2016 • $122.50 • (£95.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy

The City-State of the Soul

Constituting the Self in Plato's Republic

Hardback

eBook

Summary

The City-State of the Soul: Self-Constitution in Plato’s Republicexplores Plato’s idea that the moral life consists in the founding of one’s own soul. This insight is central to the long argument of the Republic and, in particular, to the complex relation between the city and the human soul. This fruitful picture of the moral life, however, has not received the attention it deserves.

As Kevin M. Crotty argues, Plato’s distinctive insight is that justice is above all a creative force. Plato presents justice not as a relation amongst fully formed individuals, but rather as the quality that galvanizes a diverse welter of disparate parts into a coherent entity (above all, a soul or a city). Justice, then, is the virtue most closely associated with being—the source of its philosophical stature.

Plato presents a conception of justice meant to impress the young, bright and ambitious as a noble pursuit, and a task worthy of their best talents. The City-State of the Soul is written for anyone interested in the Republic, including but not limited to students and scholars of ancient philosophy, political philosophy, ethics, and ancient Greek literature.

Details

Lexington Books

Pages: 280 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9¼

978-1-4985-3461-1 • Hardback • April 2016 • $129.00 • (£99.00)

978-1-4985-3462-8 • eBook • April 2016 • $122.50 • (£95.00)

Subjects: Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical, Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy

Author

Kevin Crotty is professor of classics and Childress Professor of Foreign Languages at Washington and Lee University.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One: Why Is Thrasymachus So Angry?

Chapter Two: Genealogies of Justice

Chapter Three: Utopia and Its Founder

Chapter Four: Philosophy and the Founder’s Perspective

Chapter Five: Why the Philosophers Will Govern

Introduction to Part Two

Chapter Six: The Soul and its Parts (I)

Chapter Seven: The Soul and its Parts (II)

Chapter Eight: Justice and Action

Chapter Nine: Freedom

Bibliography

Reviews

For its in-depth picture of the founder as distinguished from the philosopher-king, Crotty’s study is well worth reading. Readers will also discover a wealth of other insights from this thought-provoking and well-crafted book.
— Polis

Crotty's knowledge of Greek and his historical acumen make for many insightful points that both novice and veteran readers of the Republic will enjoy reading and thinking about. . . . Crotty's reading of the Republic offers students and scholars of this great text much to think about. In this way, like other valuable contributions to Republic scholarship, it inspires the continuous rereading of Plato's masterpiece.

— Review of Metaphysics

The City-State of the Soul

Constituting the Self in Plato's Republic

Kevin Crotty

The City-State of the Soul

Constituting the Self in Plato's Republic

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