Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary Interpretations

Socrates can be said to have left the subsequent philosophical tradition with the problem of the relation between philosophy and politics. Already in the Republic the proposal of philosopher-kings represents more a tension than an identity. While Aristotle responds by insisting on a sharp distinctio...

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Main Author: Francisco Gonzalez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2012-05-01
Series:Ideas y Valores
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Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/idval/article/view/33295
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author Francisco Gonzalez
author_facet Francisco Gonzalez
author_sort Francisco Gonzalez
collection DOAJ
description Socrates can be said to have left the subsequent philosophical tradition with the problem of the relation between philosophy and politics. Already in the Republic the proposal of philosopher-kings represents more a tension than an identity. While Aristotle responds by insisting on a sharp distinction between politics and philosophical wisdom, this distinction proves on closer examination much less sharp than might appear. Heidegger characterizes philosophy as the only authentic politics and the philosopher as ruling just by virtue of being a philosopher. In contrast, Foucault insists that, if philosophy can play a role in relation to politics by transforming the subject who lives politically, it plays no role within politics. In this contrast can be seen the ‘fallout’ of the tension bequeathed by Socrates through both Plato and Aristotle.
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spelling doaj-art-b5f8fd76432e415dad590fa95f1467172025-08-20T03:09:04ZengUniversidad Nacional de ColombiaIdeas y Valores0120-00622011-36682012-05-0161149Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary InterpretationsFrancisco Gonzalez0University of OttawaSocrates can be said to have left the subsequent philosophical tradition with the problem of the relation between philosophy and politics. Already in the Republic the proposal of philosopher-kings represents more a tension than an identity. While Aristotle responds by insisting on a sharp distinction between politics and philosophical wisdom, this distinction proves on closer examination much less sharp than might appear. Heidegger characterizes philosophy as the only authentic politics and the philosopher as ruling just by virtue of being a philosopher. In contrast, Foucault insists that, if philosophy can play a role in relation to politics by transforming the subject who lives politically, it plays no role within politics. In this contrast can be seen the ‘fallout’ of the tension bequeathed by Socrates through both Plato and Aristotle.https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/idval/article/view/33295AristotleM. FoucaultM. HeideggerPlatopolitical philosophy
spellingShingle Francisco Gonzalez
Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary Interpretations
Ideas y Valores
Aristotle
M. Foucault
M. Heidegger
Plato
political philosophy
title Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary Interpretations
title_full Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary Interpretations
title_fullStr Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary Interpretations
title_full_unstemmed Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary Interpretations
title_short Socrates on Philosophy and Politics: Ancient and Contemporary Interpretations
title_sort socrates on philosophy and politics ancient and contemporary interpretations
topic Aristotle
M. Foucault
M. Heidegger
Plato
political philosophy
url https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/idval/article/view/33295
work_keys_str_mv AT franciscogonzalez socratesonphilosophyandpoliticsancientandcontemporaryinterpretations