Ancient Approaches To Plato S Timaeus

Twelve academic essays, given during the Institute of Classical Studies research seminar in 2000 and 2001, examine Plato's vision of the `real world' as he presented it in Timaeus while considering the text's influence on classical philosophers and scientists. Specific subjects include astronomy, the reactions of Aristotle and others to Timaeus, Hellenistic musicology, Proclus' Commentary, comparisons with Aristotle's Physics and mythology.

Often considered obscure and repulsive by modern readers, Plato's Timaeus is presented along with a detailed and well-thought 215 page introduction and analysis, which discusses contemporary applications and interest in Timeaeus, insights on Plato as derived from the work, its profound impact on the ancient and medieval world, and long-standing issues with interpretation, among many other philosophical points of interest.

This volume offers a detailed interpretation of Plato’s texts and Platonic philosophy in its various forms and shapes as a living force in the history of philosophy, from the Hellenistic age, through the Middle Ages and Renaissance Italy, to modern England, America, Japan, and Israel. Most of the contributions here deal with the afterlife and influence of Plato’s dialogues in later Greek philosophy and in various places and periods, and approach a number of dialogues and issues from new perspectives, shedding new light on some ancient problems. These studies represent no single approach, and illustrate, in their various ways, some different methods of approaching the original and ever-surprising author that Plato has always been.

Timaeus is one of Plato's dialogues, mostly in the form of a long monologue given by the title character Timaeus of Locri, written c. 360 BC. The work speculates on the nature of the physical world and human beings and is followed by the dialogue Critias. Participants in the dialogue include Socrates, Timaeus, Hermocrates, and Critias.

This book assembles an international team of scholars to move forward the study of Plato’s conception of time, to find fresh insights for interpreting his cosmology, and to reimagine the Platonic tradition.