On Study

[sdi]

And hence this of all things is most to be studied: in what manner every one of us, omitting other disciplines, shall […] be able to […] discern a good life and a bad; and to choose everywhere, and at all times, the best of what is possible[: …] pronouncing that to be the worse which shall lead the soul to become more unjust, and that to be the better life which shall lead it to become more just, and to dismiss every other consideration.

(Socrates, as quoted by Plato in Book X of The Republic and translated by Thomas Taylor)

Comments

[barefootwisdom]

You may have already seen it yourself, but endymions_bower just shared his translation of some of Proclus' commentary on Republic Book X. There's some great stuff there!

[sdi]

Thank you, I had not!

[boccaderlupo]

Great. Seems like there is a clear metaphysical component here...

[barefootwisdom]

With Plato, there always is. *grin*

(Except, that is, in cases where the metaphysical component is present but slightly obscured...)

[boccaderlupo]

Agreed. There is a tendency by some (present company excluded) to treat the diverse topics of Plato's thought almost in silos, however. I would argue that it's only when the ethics, politics, etc. are viewed in light of the metaphysics that the coherence and the weight of the topics become clearer.

Axé