New Books in Literary Studies Carol Atack, "Plato: A Civic Life" (Reaktion, 2025)
Sep 27, 2025
Carol Atack, a Fellow at Cambridge and expert in Greek philosophy, delves into Plato's life and its impacts on his philosophical ideas. She discusses how the turbulence of 5th-century Athens shaped his thought, from his critique of democracy triggered by events like Socrates' trial to the significance of the Herculaneum papyrus discoveries. Atack also highlights Plato's travels and interactions with other thinkers, examining how these experiences influenced his Academy and its legacy in shaping modern education. Plato's relevance in today's political climate is also a key topic.
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Plato Writes Through Characters
- Plato's dialogues memorialise real people and debates, keeping his life visible through characters rather than explicit biography.
- Contextualising Plato's world clarifies why his arguments respond to specific Athenian debates.
Herculaneum Fragment Sheds New Light
- Scholars used imaging and AI techniques to read a Herculaneum papyrus about Plato's Academy and death.
- The recovered fragment offers mythologised but intriguing details on Plato's life and death.
Formative Years In Turbulent Athens
- Plato grew up during war, plague aftermath, and political instability that shaped his political concerns.
- His family ties to active democrats exposed him to public life and its failures early on.
