Plato and Hesiod

by G. R. Boys-Stones, J. H. Haubold

Overview

It hardly needs repeating that Plato defined philosophy partly by contrast with the work of the poets. What is extraordinary is how little systematic exploration there has been of his relationship with specific poets other than Homer. This neglect extends even to Hesiod, though Hesiod is of central importance for the didactic tradition quite generally, and is a major source of imagery at crucial moments of Plato's thought. This volume, which presents fifteen articles by specialists on the area, will be the first ever book-length study dedicated to the subject. It covers a wide variety of thematic angles, brings new and sometimes surprising light to a large range of Platonic dialogues, and represents a major contribution to the study of the reception of archaic poetry in Athens.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199236343
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/22/2010
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

G. R. Boys-Stones is Senior Lecturer in Classics, Durham University.
Johannes Haubold is Leverhulme Senior Lecturer in Greek Literature, Durham University.

Table of Contents

IntroductionI. Plato and Hesiod1. Shepherd, Farmer, Poet, Sophist: Hesiod on Intellectual Progress, J. H. Haubold2. Hesiod and Plato's History of Philosophy, G. R.Boys-Stones3. Plato's Hesiod: An Acquired Taste?, G. W. Most4. Hesiod in Plato: Second Fiddle to Homer?, Naoko Yamagata5. Plato's Hesiod: Not Plato's Alone, Hugo Koning6. Hesiod in Classical Athens: Rhapsodes, Orators, and Platonic Discourse, Barbara Graziosi7. Plato's Two Hesiods, Andrew L. FordII. Individual Dialogues8. The Seductions of Hesiod: Pandora's Presence in Plato's Symposium, Vered Lev Kenaan9. Hesiod's Races and Your Own': Socrates' 'Hesiodic' Project, Helen Van Noorden10. Plato's Hesiod and the Will of Zeus: Philosophical Rhapsody in the Timaeus and the Critias, Andrea Capra11. Chaos Corrected: Hesiod in Plato's Creation Myth, E. E. Pender12. Hesiod's Theogony and Plato's Timaeus, David Sedley13. Hesiod in the Timaeus: The Demiurge Addresses the Gods, Mario Regali14. Hesiod, Plato, and the Golden Age: Hesiodic Motifs in the Myth of the Politicus, Dimitri El Murr15. On Grey-Haired Babies: Plato, Hesiod, and Visions of the Past (and Future), Christopher Rowe

Editorial Reviews

"This is a rich and original collection which offers new and exciting insights into Plato's interest in Hesiod as, among other things, a source of authority, a sophistic paradigm, a cosmogonist and an alternative to Homer...The essays in this volume are all original, interesting and, in most cases, provocative (in a good way)." — Jenny Bryan, University College London, The Classical Review

"Boys-Stones, Haubold, et al. have succeeded in elevating the discussion of the neglected relationship between Plato and Hesiod, thereby paving the way for future work...Hesiod joins the pantheon of literary rivals with whom Plato sustained a surprisingly deep and complex relationship." — Marcus Folch, Columbia University, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

From the Publisher