Socrates, Pleasure, and Value by George Rudebusch (English) Hardcover Book

Description: Socrates, Pleasure, and Value by George Rudebusch George Rudebusch addresses the question of whether Socrates was a hedonist -- that is, if he believed that the good is, at bottom, a matter of pleasure. Rudebusch claims that this issue is so basic that, unless it is resolved, no adequate assessment of the Socratic dialogues place in the history of philosophy can be made. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description In the past quarter century, enormous philosophical attention has been paid to Platos "Socratic" dialogues, as interpreters have sought to identify which dialogues are truly Socratic and interpret and defend the moral theories they find in those works. In spite of this intellectual energy, no consensus has emerged on the question of whether Socrates was a hedonist--whether he believed pleasure to be the good. In this study, George Rudebusch addresses this questionand the textual puzzle from which it has arisen. In the Protagoras, Plato has Socrates appeal to hedonism in order to assert his characteristic identification of virtue andknowledge. While in the Gorgias, Socrates attributes hedonism to his opponent and argues against it in defense of his own view that doing injustice is worse than suffering it. From the Apology and Crito, it is clear that Socrates believes virtue to be the supreme good. Taken together, scholars have found these texts to be incoherent and seek to account for them either in terms of the development of Platos thinking or by denying that one or more of these texts wasmeant to reflect Socrates own ethical theory. Rudebusch argues instead that these texts do indeed fit together into a coherent moral theory as he attempts to locate Socrates position on hedonism. Hedistinguishes Socrates own hedonism from that which Socrates attacks elsewhere. Rudebusch also maintains that Socrates identifies pleasant activity with virtuous activity, describing Socrates hedonism as one of activity, not sensation. This analysis allows for Socrates to find both virtue and pleasure to be the good, thus solving the textual puzzle and showing the power of Socratic argument in leading human beings toward the good. Tackling some of the most fundamentaldebates over Socratic ethics in Platos earlier dialogues, Socrates, Pleasure, and Value will generate renewed discussion among specialists and provide excellent reading for courses in ancientphilosophy as well as ethical theory. Author Biography George Rudebusch is at Northern Arizona University. Table of Contents ONE: IntroductionTWO: Platos Aporetic StyleTHREE: Ethical ProtagoreanismFOUR: Callicles HedonismFIVE: Callicles RefutedSIX: Death Is One of Two ThingsSEVEN: The Intrinsic Value of Sense Pleasure and PainEIGHT: The Righteous Are HappyNINE: Does Socrates Conistently Hold the Sufficiency Thesis?TEN: How Socrates Can Make Both Pleasure and Virtue the Chief GoodNotesBibliographyIndex of PassagesGeneral Index Review "I have encountered very few books that so refresh ones experience of reading Plato"--The Review of Metaphysics"I have encountered very few books that so refresh ones experience of reading Plato"--The Review of Metaphysics"In this excellent book, Rudebusch pursues this question to the heart of Socrates ethics and concludes that Socrates is indeed a hedonist of an unusual kind....Every page of this extraordinary book offers spare but subtle argument without embellishment or distraction--a model of philosophical writing. Certainly the best book on Socratic ethics. Strongly recommended for college and university libraries."--Choice Long Description In the past quarter century, enormous philosophical attention has been paid to Platos "Socratic" dialogues, as interpreters have sought to identify which dialogues are truly Socratic and interpret and defend the moral theories they find in those works. In spite of this intellectual energy, no consensus has emerged on the question of whether Socrates was a hedonist--whether he believed pleasure to be the good. In this study, George Rudebusch addresses this questionand the textual puzzle from which it has arisen. In the Protagoras, Plato has Socrates appeal to hedonism in order to assert his characteristic identification of virtue and knowledge. While in the Gorgias, Socrates attributes hedonism to his opponent and argues against it indefense of his own view that doing injustice is worse than suffering it. From the Apology and Crito, it is clear that Socrates believes virtue to be the supreme good. Taken together, scholars have found these texts to be incoherent and seek to account for them either in terms of the development of Platos thinking or by denying that one or more of these texts was meant to reflect Socrates own ethical theory. Rudebusch argues instead that these texts doindeed fit together into a coherent moral theory as he attempts to locate Socrates position on hedonism. He distinguishes Socrates own hedonism from that which Socrates attacks elsewhere. Rudebusch also maintains that Socrates identifies pleasant activity with virtuous activity, describing Socrates hedonism as oneof activity, not sensation. This analysis allows for Socrates to find both virtue and pleasure to be the good, thus solving the textual puzzle and showing the power of Socratic argument in leading human beings toward the good. Tackling some of the most fundamental debates over Socratic ethics in Platos earlier dialogues, Socrates, Pleasure, and Value will generate renewed discussion among specialists and provide excellent reading for courses in ancientphilosophy as well as ethical theory. Review Text "I have encountered very few books that so refresh ones experience of reading Plato"--The Review of Metaphysics"I have encountered very few books that so refresh ones experience of reading Plato"--The Review of Metaphysics"In this excellent book, Rudebusch pursues this question to the heart of Socrates ethics and concludes that Socrates is indeed a hedonist of an unusual kind....Every page of this extraordinary book offers spare but subtle argument without embellishment or distraction--a model of philosophical writing. Certainly the best book on Socratic ethics. Strongly recommended for college and university libraries."--Choice Review Quote "In this excellent book, Rudebusch pursues this question to the heart ofSocrates ethics and concludes that Socrates is indeed a hedonist of an unusualkind....Every page of this extraordinary book offers spare but subtle argumentwithout embellishment or distraction--a model of philosophical writing.Certainly the best book on Socratic ethics. Strongly recommended for collegeand university libraries."--Choice Details ISBN0195128559 Author George Rudebusch Short Title SOCRATES PLEASURE & VALUE Language English ISBN-10 0195128559 ISBN-13 9780195128550 Media Book Format Hardcover DEWEY 183.2 Year 1999 Birth 1957 Affiliation Northern Arizona University, USA Illustrations black & white illustrations Position Professor of Philosophy Imprint Oxford University Press Inc Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States DOI 10.1604/9780195128550 UK Release Date 1999-09-30 AU Release Date 1999-09-30 NZ Release Date 1999-09-30 US Release Date 1999-09-30 Publisher Oxford University Press Inc Publication Date 1999-09-30 Alternative 9780195159615 Audience Professional & Vocational Pages 192 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! 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