Myth and Philosophy from the Presocratics to Plato [Paperback]

An exploration of the complex relationship between myth and philosophy in writings by Greek intellectuals.This book explores the complex relationship between myth and philosophy in writings by Greek intellectuals between the late sixth and mid fourth centuries BC. Although philosophy may seem far removed from mythological stories, closer examination reveals that Plato and others realised that philosophic accounts too were 'stories' about reality. Kathryn Morgan shows how these philosophers used myth to express philosophic problems. Her book traces a tradition of strictly rational and philosophical myth through two centuries.This book explores the complex relationship between myth and philosophy in writings by Greek intellectuals between the late sixth and mid fourth centuries BC. Although philosophy may seem far removed from mythological stories, closer examination reveals that Plato and others realised that philosophic accounts too were 'stories' about reality. Kathryn Morgan shows how these philosophers used myth to express philosophic problems. Her book traces a tradition of strictly rational and philosophical myth through two centuries.This book explores the complex relationship between myth and philosophy in writings by Greek intellectuals between the late-sixth and mid-fourth centuries BC. Although philosophy may seem far removed from mythological stories, closer examination reveals that Plato and others realized that philosophic accounts too were stories about reality. Kathryn Morgan shows how these philosophers used myth to express philosophic problems. Her book traces a tradition of strictly rational and philosophical myth through two centuries.Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; 2. Theoretical issues; 3. Some Presocratics; 4. The sophists and their contemporaries; 5. The Protagoras: Platonic myth in the making; 6. The range of Platonic myth; 7. Plato: myth and the soul; 8. Plato: myth and theory; 9. Conclusion; Bibliography; Index of passages cited; GenerlS[