Platonism and Naturalism: The Possibility of Philosophy

Lloyd P. Gerson

Published by Cornell University Press 2020

Platonism and Naturalism

The Possibility of Philosophy

Lloyd P. Gerson

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501747267

Overview
Contents

About this book

In his third and concluding volume, Lloyd P. Gerson presents an innovative account of Platonism, the central tradition in the history of philosophy, in conjunction with Naturalism, the "anti-Platonism" in antiquity and contemporary philosophy.

Gerson contends that Platonism identifies philosophy with a distinct subject matter, namely, the intelligible world and seeks to show that the Naturalist rejection of Platonism entails the elimination of a distinct subject matter for philosophy. Thus, the possibility of philosophy depends on the truth of Platonism. From Aristotle to Plotinus to Proclus, Gerson clearly links the construction of the Platonic system well beyond simply Plato's dialogues, providing strong evidence of the vast impact of Platonism on philosophy throughout history. Platonism and Naturalism concludes that attempts to seek a rapprochement between Platonism and Naturalism are unstable and likely indefensible.

Author / Editor information

Lloyd P. Gerson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including, most recently, From Plato to Platonism.

Reviews

Nicholas D. Smith, Lewis and Clark College, author of Summoning Knowledge in Plato's Republic:

Platonism and Naturalism is a work of magisterial scholarship. It is patently the product of a long engagement in philosophical thought, and offers an extended argument that provides profound insights into the connections between ancient Greek and contemporary philosophy.

Vasilis Politis, Trinity College Dublin, author of The Structure of Enquiry in Plato's Early Dialogues and co-editor of The Aporetic Tradition in Ancient Philosophy:

Gerson's exceptionally detailed, rich and wide-ranging knowledge of Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, and his distinctive reconstruction of their Platonism, combined with his vigorous style, makes this a fascinating book.

The book impresses most by the way it combines its depth of hermeneutic and analytical detail with a far-reaching perspective on what is at stake philosophically and for philosophy itself.

A short review hardly does justice to this formidable book... I applaud his synoptic approach and admire his effort to come to grips with many of the most difficult passages in Plato and other Platonists. Like the book or not, Platonism and Naturalism deserves to be read by anyone trying to make sense of Plato.

The significance of this monograph cannot be overestimated. Not only is it a highly original and fresh account of the historical odyssey of Platonism from Plato to Damascius (with Aristotle, like it or not, taken on board and, occasionally, tied to the mast), but it is also an attempt to bring back philosophy, as it was conceived of until quite recently, to the late modern intellectual and spiritual milieu.

Both excellent intellectual history and sharp contemporary philosophy, this book will be of great interest to historians of philosophy and naturalistic philosophers alike. Exceptional.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
Part 1. Plato’s Rejection of Naturalism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Part 2. The Platonic Project Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	195
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	267
General Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	285
Index Locorum Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	293

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Audience: General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 318
Keywords: Platonism; naturalism; Aristotle; Proclus; Philosophy; Aristotle; Plotinus

eBook

Published: March 15, 2020
ISBN: 9781501747267