Plato and the Hero Courage, Manliness and the Impersonal Good [Paperback]

Examines Plato's critique of the notions and embodiments of manliness prevalent in his culture.Plato's thinking on courage, manliness and heroism is both profound and central to his work, but these areas of his thought remain under-explored. This book examines his developing critique of the notions and embodiments of manliness prevalent in his culture (particularly those in Homer), and his attempt to redefine such notions in accordance with his ethical, psychological and metaphysical principles. It further seeks to locate the discussion within the framework of Plato's general approach to ethics.Plato's thinking on courage, manliness and heroism is both profound and central to his work, but these areas of his thought remain under-explored. This book examines his developing critique of the notions and embodiments of manliness prevalent in his culture (particularly those in Homer), and his attempt to redefine such notions in accordance with his ethical, psychological and metaphysical principles. It further seeks to locate the discussion within the framework of Plato's general approach to ethics.Plato's thinking on courage, manliness and heroism is both profound and central to his work, but these areas of his thought remain underexplored. This book examines his developing critique of the notions and embodiments of manliness prevalent in his culture (particularly those in Homer), and his attempt to redefine such notions in accordance with his ethical, psychological and metaphysical principles. It further seeks to locate the discussion within the framework of Plato's general approach to ethics.Acknowledgements; Preface; Glossary; 1. The puzzle of Plato's thumos; 2. Thumos, andreia and the ethics of flourishing; 3. Arms and the man: andreia in the Laches; 4. Odd virtue out: courage and goodness in the Protagoras; 5. Why should I be good? Callicles, Thrasymachus and the egoist challenge; 6. Heroes and role models: the Apology, Hippias Major and Hippias Minor; 7. The threat l37