Platonic Revivalists? The Cases of Simone Weil and Leo Strauss

Robert A. Ballingall

Jump to Content

Chapter 3 Platonic Revivalists? The Cases of Simone Weil and Leo Strauss

In: Brill's Companion to the Legacy of Greek Political Thought

Author:

Robert A. Ballingall

Robert A. Ballingall
Search for other papers by Robert A. Ballingall in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 74–103

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004679344_005

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

Plato wrote dramas, not treatises, and he did not limit his works to rationalistic discourse. Many of them articulate a strange and enduring mythology whose ultimate purpose is famously enigmatic. This chapter examines the controversial readings of two twentieth-century thinkers who place these literary elements at the centre of their interpretations. Simone Weil and Leo Strauss are seldom discussed in the same context, but their approaches to Plato bear surprising resemblances. These figures shared a hope that the philosophic life according to Plato might be revived, and both see in the mythical and dialogic aspects of Plato’s works the key to his understanding of philosophy. Paradoxically, however, it is a testament to that understanding that it inspires radically divergent readings, even or precisely when its relationship to Plato’s dramaturgy is appreciated.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004679344/BP000011.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Brill's Companion to the Legacy of Greek Political Thought

Series: Brill's Companions to Philosophy: Ancient Philosophy, Volume: 8 and Brill's Companions to Philosophy, Volume: 8

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004679344

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 16 Sep 2024

Subjects
- Classical Studies
  - Ancient Philosophy
- Philosophy
  - Ancient Philosophy
  - Social & Political Philosophy

Front Matter

Back Matter

ProCite

RefWorks

Reference Manager

BibTeX

Zotero

EndNote

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	239	127	10
Full Text Views	7	3	0
PDF Views & Downloads	12	4	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Chapter 3 Platonic Revivalists? The Cases of Simone Weil and Leo Strauss

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Brill's Companion to the Legacy of Greek Political Thought

Table of Contents

References

Metrics

Metrics