| Description |
1 online resource (viii, 256 pages) |
| Physical Medium |
polychrome |
| Description |
text file |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-247) and index. |
| Contents |
Abbreviations; 1; Fundamental Themes: Kingship and Wisdom; What is a king? ; Functions of ancient kings; Kingship, Classical Greece and Republican Rome ; Philosopher-kings and assorted wise rulers; 2; Plato's Dream; Early dialogues and the "royal craft" of politics ; Guardians and demiurges: Republic, Timaeus and Critias; The direct rule of God: Statesman; Indirect rule by a wise legislator: Laws; Plato the activist ; 3; From Plato to Plutarch; Plato's contemporaries: Xenophon, Isocrates, Aristotle; Alexander and the Hellenistic age ; Plutarch's philosopher-kings ; 4; Marcus Aurelius. |
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Marcus' educationChallenges of Marcus' reign: plague, wars, revolt; The Stoicism of Marcus' Meditations; Assessments of Marcus: a philosopher-king?; Marcus' enduring image; 5; Julian the Apostate; Julian's education ; Julian's ideas; Constantinople; Antioch; Mesopotamia; Assessments: a philosopher-king; 6; From Moses to Modernity ; Ancient images of Moses: prophet, lawgiver, philosopher; The Lord's anointed: Justinian and medieval ideals; Freedom and system: philosophes and enlightened despots ; Natural light of reason: Thomas Jefferson, philosopher-president. |
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Scientific wisdom: Marx, Lenin, StalinA concluding fable: Orwell's Animal Farm; Notes; Bibliography; Index. |
| Summary |
One of the most celebrated of Plato''s ideas was that if human society was ever to function successfully then philosophers would need to become kings, or kings philosophers. In a perfect state, therefore, philosophic wisdom should be wedded to political power. In antiquity, who were or aspired to be philosopher-kings? What was their understanding of wisdom and the limits of knowledge? What influence have they had on periods beyond antiquity? This volume focuses on Plato and his contemporaries; Alexander the Great and his Hellenistic successors; Marcus Aurelius and the ''good emperors''; Mose. |
| Local Note |
eBooks on EBSCOhost EBSCO eBook Subscription Academic Collection - North America |
| Subject |
Philosopher-kings.
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Philosopher-kings. |
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Philosophy, Ancient.
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Philosophy, Ancient. |
| Genre/Form |
Electronic books.
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| Other Form: |
Print version: Philosopher-kings of Antiquity. Continuum Intl Pub Group 2011 9780826434753 (OCoLC)657602897 |
| ISBN |
9781441108821 (electronic book) |
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1441108823 (electronic book) |
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9780826434753 (electronic book) |
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0826434754 (electronic book) |
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