Images of Excellence: Plato's Critique of the Arts

by Christopher Janaway

Overview

This original new book argues for a reassessment of Plato's challenge to the arts. Plato was the first great figure in Western philosophy to assess the value of the arts; he argued in the Republic that traditionally accepted forms of poetry, drama, and music are unsound. While this view has been widely rejected, Janaway argues that Plato's hostile case is a more coherent and profound challenge to the arts than has sometimes been supposed. Denying that Plato advocates "good art" in any modern sense, Janaway seeks both to understand Plato's critique in the context of his own philosophy and to locate him in today's philosophy of art, showing how issues in aesthetics arise from responses to his charges.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198237921
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	09/03/1998
Pages:	236
Product dimensions:	8.45(w) x 5.38(h) x 0.58(d)
Lexile:	1450L (what's this?)

About the Author

Birkbeck College, University of London

Table of Contents

Introduction1. Rhapsody2. Arts, Crafts, and the Production of Pleasure3. The Fine and the Beautiful4. The Formation of Character5. Mimesis6. Against Mimetic Poetry7. Myth, Madness, Pleasure, and Play8. Plato and the Philosophy of ArtBibliographyGlossaryIndexes

Editorial Reviews

"Janaway strikes a fine balance between lucid exposition of the texts, explanation of standard and alternative views and relevant aesthetic theory, and his own interpretations, which grow out of this carefully cultivated ground....This is a stimulating, enlightening, highly intelligent and well written book."—Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"Janaway's study of Plato's "critique of the arts" is a timely and readable analysis of a notoriously complex subject."—Classical World

"Janaway succeeds admirably in reawakening us to the depth of Plato's critique of the arts..."—Ancient Philosophy

From the Publisher