Hillsdale Dialogues

Plato's Republic, Introduction

6 snips
Jun 7, 2024
Daniel O'Toole, Assistant Professor of Politics at Hillsdale College and expert on Plato, discusses the nuances of Allan Bloom's translation of 'The Republic.' He reflects on the accessibility of Aristotle's 'Politics' compared to Plato's challenging dialogues. The conversation highlights Socrates' impact on moral philosophy and the intrinsic political nature of human beings. O'Toole also contrasts the philosophies of justice between Plato and John Rawls, emphasizing the complexities of achieving a just society.
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INSIGHT

The Value of Studying Political Theory

  • Studying political theory challenges assumptions and prejudices.
  • It provides a clearer understanding of oneself and one's place in the world.
INSIGHT

Aristotle's Accessibility

  • Aristotle's Politics is more accessible than Plato's works, offering clearer explanations of political life and justice.
  • O'Toole starts his ancient political philosophy class with Aristotle for this reason.
ANECDOTE

O'Toole's Introduction to Political Theory

  • Daniel O'Toole found political theory fascinating in a class with Charles Kesler.
  • He was so impressed by Kesler's lectures that he took every political theory course he could.
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