New Books in Intellectual History William H. F. Altman, "Plato the Teacher: The Crisis of the Republic" (Lexington, 2012)
Sep 24, 2024
William H. F. Altman is a retired public high-school teacher and author of "Plato the Teacher: The Crisis of the Republic." In this conversation, he explores Plato's unique pedagogical approach, emphasizing the role of the Republic and the Allegory of the Cave in his teaching. Altman defends a structured reading order for Plato's dialogues, arguing that philosophical ascent requires navigating the complexities of civic life. He critiques democracy's role in justice and discusses the educational value of Plato’s dialogues as tests for students, moving beyond traditional scholarship.
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Late-Career Scholar Inspired By Plato
- William Altman describes becoming a public high-school teacher because Plato's Republic and the Allegory of the Cave inspired him.
- He earned a PhD at 55 and published extensively, urging others not to delay their work.
19th-Century Skepticism Shaped Canon
- Nineteenth-century German scholarship, led by Schleiermacher, began systematic doubts about authenticity of some dialogues.
- Altman argues much of that skepticism rests on philological prejudice rather than decisive evidence.
Reading Plato As A Curriculum
- Altman reconstructs a pedagogical reading order for Plato's dialogues, prioritizing teaching sequence over compositional development.
- He treats dramatic details and textual links as guides to the intended curriculum rather than stylistic dating.
