Why Plato Wrote is the first book to be published in the prestigious Blackwell Bristol Lecture Series in Greece, Rome and the Classical Tradition. In this thought-provoking text Danielle Allen eloquently argues that Plato wrote to change Athenian culture and thereby transform Athenian politics. She makes the case that Plato was not only the world's first systematic political philosopher, but also the western world's first think-tank activist and message man. Allen contends that the roles of philosopher and message man were not mutually exclusive, and that Plato's pursuit of language as a vehicle for affecting cultural norms was grounded in his philosophy of language. Why Plato Wrote is a lucid and engaging commentary on Plato's philosophy of language and its relation to his political theory.
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"Packed with controversial theses, engagingly andintelligently written, iconoclastic - there's not muchwrong with this book as a work of ancient philosophy." (The Heythrop Journal, 4 September 2013)"In her bold and richly absorbing study, Why Plato Wrote, DanielleS. Allen argues that the answer to why Plato wrote is also theanswer to the relation between the Platonic dialogues and Athenianpolitical life ... He may have elected not to enter the politicalfray in Athens as ordinarily understood, but Danielle Allen showswith elegance and scholarship that he was indeed a politicos, justas Diogenes Laertius claimed." (Times Literary Supplement,23 December 2011)
"I have learned much from this book. It demands that we connectPlato's writing to real life in his city. Even those who do notshare all its conclusions will be challenged by Allen's manyoriginal insights into how Plato used symbols to work on ourintellect, our preconceptual beliefs, and our emotions." (BrynMawr Classical Review, 21 November 2011)
"This extraordinary and scholarly book takes a fascinating newlook at Plato as politikos. It is a joy to read. Excellent notes,bibliography, and index. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-levelundergraduates through faculty/researchers." (Choice, 1 June2011)
"In this groundbreaking book Danielle Allen gives us Platofor the 21st century: a boldly pragmatic and fiercely politicalphilosopher, a 'legislator of the world' whose vividwriting reframed the moral practices of real communities, aprovocative and successful linguistic entrepreneur whose Socraticdialogues sparked a culture war that defined Athenian politics inthe Age of Alexander. Compelling reading for anyone who carespassionately about philosophy, politics, or classicalGreece."
Josiah Ober, Stanford University
"Why Plato Wrote is a deep and original work ofscholarship, a model of how the history of political philosophyshould be studied, and a pleasure to read."
Richard Kraut, Northwestern University
"Allen finds Plato to have invented himself as a writerin order to use language as a route to social change. Thesimple question 'why Plato wrote' unlocks a key to Plato'spolitical thought which no future scholar will be able to dowithout."
Melissa Lane, Princeton University
"I have learned much from this book. It demands that we connectPlato's writing to real life in his city. Even those who do notshare all its conclusions will be challenged by Allen's manyoriginal insights into how Plato used symbols to work on ourintellect, our preconceptual beliefs, and our emotions." (BrynMawr Classical Review, 21 November 2011)
"This extraordinary and scholarly book takes a fascinating newlook at Plato as politikos. It is a joy to read. Excellent notes,bibliography, and index. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-levelundergraduates through faculty/researchers." (Choice, 1 June2011)
"In this groundbreaking book Danielle Allen gives us Platofor the 21st century: a boldly pragmatic and fiercely politicalphilosopher, a 'legislator of the world' whose vividwriting reframed the moral practices of real communities, aprovocative and successful linguistic entrepreneur whose Socraticdialogues sparked a culture war that defined Athenian politics inthe Age of Alexander. Compelling reading for anyone who carespassionately about philosophy, politics, or classicalGreece."
Josiah Ober, Stanford University
"Why Plato Wrote is a deep and original work ofscholarship, a model of how the history of political philosophyshould be studied, and a pleasure to read."
Richard Kraut, Northwestern University
"Allen finds Plato to have invented himself as a writerin order to use language as a route to social change. Thesimple question 'why Plato wrote' unlocks a key to Plato'spolitical thought which no future scholar will be able to dowithout."
Melissa Lane, Princeton University