New Books Network Carol Atack, "Plato: A Civic Life" (Reaktion, 2025)
Sep 27, 2025
Carol Atack, a teacher of classical Greek and ancient philosophy at the University of Cambridge, dives deep into the life of Plato and the turbulent Athenian backdrop that shaped his thoughts. She discusses the significance of Plato's dialogues in memorializing lost voices and how the trial of Socrates profoundly redirected his work. Atack also explores Plato’s critique of Athenian democracy and sophists, his travels and influences, and how the Academy he founded echoes through modern education, highlighting the importance of dialogue in today’s polarized discourse.
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Dialogues As Memorials
- Plato's dialogues memorialize real people and preserve past voices within imagined debates.
- Reading them contextually reveals how his life and relationships shaped his philosophical aims.
Born Into Turbulent Athens
- Plato was born in the 420s BCE into a politically active family during wartime and plague.
- His upbringing placed him amid civic duties and the looming threat of renewed conflict.
Skepticism Toward Athenian Democracy
- Plato distrusted democratic decision-making when it lacked knowledge and wisdom, shaped by Athens' military failures and political upheavals.
- He feared democracy's capacity for collective injustice but considered tyranny worse.
