The Greek word arete is usually translated as ‘virtue’, but can also be rendered as ‘excellence’: it is a subject which continually arises in Platonic dialogues and texts. What is arete, and why does is play such a prominent role in Platonic philosophy? Is it an essence, a power or an activity? Is there one thing or a plurality; and if many, what is the common feature that allows them to called by one name? We will use this session to explore arete and the soul’s relation to it as it passed from the most outward to the most inward states of activity and consciousness.
To download the extracts we will be reading from please click here: The Platonic Tradition on Virtue.
This event is free but donations are encouraged, circumstances allowing. We’ll start the session at 6.30pm: tea/coffee and cake will be available just beforehand. No need to book.
These evenings include short talks and/or readings from Platonic writings – but we hope they will be genuinely interactive, with all participants invited to contribute to our collaborative search for truth. No previous experience of formal philosophy is required. Every effort is made to make these type of evenings accessible to the newcomer, while allowing the great profundity of the Platonic tradition to step forward and speak to us at whatever level our present understanding sits.