Plato, Politics and a Practical Utopia: Social Constructivism and Civic Planning in the 'Laws'
Dealing with themes of urban planning, constitutionalism, utopianism and social construction theory, this book analyzes the city of Magnesia, Plato's second-best city-state in the Laws, as if it were an actual ancient city-state. The book details the demographics, economics, military capabilities and polity of Magnesia using (post)modern critical theory and contemporary data on ancient city-states.
Examining the key features of the proposed city-state in detail, Kenneth Royce Moore considers Plato's proposed military as well as his invention of national service, and compares this with known militaries of the era. The author demonstrates that economic growth is not its priority, highly restricted with an aim toward stability rather than expansion. Moore also considers the Magnesian political system in the light of existing polities of the era, concluding that Magnesia will have a strikingly different form of government than any other actual city-state in antiquity, albeit derived in no small part from Athenian, Cretan and Spartan traditions. This book puts "flesh on the bones" of Plato's fictional utopia and reveals how surprisingly practical it could have been.
"1111629855"
Plato, Politics and a Practical Utopia: Social Constructivism and Civic Planning in the 'Laws'
Dealing with themes of urban planning, constitutionalism, utopianism and social construction theory, this book analyzes the city of Magnesia, Plato's second-best city-state in the Laws, as if it were an actual ancient city-state. The book details the demographics, economics, military capabilities and polity of Magnesia using (post)modern critical theory and contemporary data on ancient city-states.
Examining the key features of the proposed city-state in detail, Kenneth Royce Moore considers Plato's proposed military as well as his invention of national service, and compares this with known militaries of the era. The author demonstrates that economic growth is not its priority, highly restricted with an aim toward stability rather than expansion. Moore also considers the Magnesian political system in the light of existing polities of the era, concluding that Magnesia will have a strikingly different form of government than any other actual city-state in antiquity, albeit derived in no small part from Athenian, Cretan and Spartan traditions. This book puts "flesh on the bones" of Plato's fictional utopia and reveals how surprisingly practical it could have been.
35.49 In Stock
Plato, Politics and a Practical Utopia: Social Constructivism and Civic Planning in the 'Laws'

Plato, Politics and a Practical Utopia: Social Constructivism and Civic Planning in the 'Laws'

by Kenneth Royce Moore
Plato, Politics and a Practical Utopia: Social Constructivism and Civic Planning in the 'Laws'

Plato, Politics and a Practical Utopia: Social Constructivism and Civic Planning in the 'Laws'

by Kenneth Royce Moore

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Overview

Dealing with themes of urban planning, constitutionalism, utopianism and social construction theory, this book analyzes the city of Magnesia, Plato's second-best city-state in the Laws, as if it were an actual ancient city-state. The book details the demographics, economics, military capabilities and polity of Magnesia using (post)modern critical theory and contemporary data on ancient city-states.
Examining the key features of the proposed city-state in detail, Kenneth Royce Moore considers Plato's proposed military as well as his invention of national service, and compares this with known militaries of the era. The author demonstrates that economic growth is not its priority, highly restricted with an aim toward stability rather than expansion. Moore also considers the Magnesian political system in the light of existing polities of the era, concluding that Magnesia will have a strikingly different form of government than any other actual city-state in antiquity, albeit derived in no small part from Athenian, Cretan and Spartan traditions. This book puts "flesh on the bones" of Plato's fictional utopia and reveals how surprisingly practical it could have been.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781441147523
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: 12/15/2011
Series: Criminal Practice Series
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 144
File size: 197 KB

About the Author

Kenneth Royce Moore is Lecturer in the History of Ideas at Teeside University, Middlesbrough, UK.

Kenneth Royce Moore is Senior Lecturer in the History of Ideas at Teesside University, UK. He is the editor of Routledge's Companion to the Reception of Ancient Greek and Roman Gender and Sexuality (2023) and Brill's Companion to the Reception of Alexander the Great (2018). He is the author of Plato Politics and a Practical Utopia (Bloomsbury Academic, 2012) and Sex and the Second-Best City (2005).

Table of Contents

1. The Development of the Polis and its Re-Development Under Plato\2. Platonic Economics: Fleshing the Bones of Magnesia\3. The Magnesian Military, National Service and Mythical Amazons\4. The Magnesian Polity: Classical Democracy Recast\Notes\Bibliography\Index
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