by Roy Jackson
There are many more influences, and far too many to recount. You could look at examples of political states based on Platonic models, such as a number of medieval states in Europe, or the kibbutzim in Israel. Despite the controversial nature of much of his philosophy, the fact that Plato, some 2,500 years after his death, continues to excite interest is merit and applause in itself. While something of a cliché, certainly, without Plato the world really would be a very different place.
Key terms
Caliph: A title given to the political leader of a Muslim community.
Emanation: Something that radiates from a person or thing. In Neoplatonism, the belief that the ‘One’ emanates its divine essence.
Machiavellianism: A political strategy in which politicians engage in unscrupulous methods to gain or maintain power.
Neoplatonism: ‘New’ Platonism that incorporates aspects of Plato’s teachings into mystical religious beliefs. Founded by Plotinus in the 3rd century AD.
Realpolitik. A term from the German ‘realistic politics’. It is the form of politics that bases power on practical concerns rather than moral or ideological.
Dig deeper
Barker, E. (trans.) (1995), Aristotle: Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Kennedy, J. B. (2014), The Musical Structure of Plato’s Dialogues. London: Routledge.
Lyons, J. (2010), The House of Wisdom: How the Arabs Transformed Western Civilization. London: Bloomsbury.
MacLeod, R. (Ed.) (2004), The Library of Alexandria: Centre of Learning in the Ancient World. London: I. B. Tauris.
Parks, T. (2009), Niccolò Machiavelli: The Prince. London: Penguin.
Remes, P. (2008), Neoplatonism, Ancient Philosophies. Durham: Acumen.
Fact check
1 Which one of the following is a work by Aristotle?
a Religion
b Economics
c Philosophy
d Politics
2 Who did Aristotle once teach?
a Plato
b Strabo
c Socrates
d Alexander the Great
3 Which one of the following is the name given to a school of thought that incorporates aspects of Plato’s teachings into mystical religious beliefs?
a Machiavellianism
b Realpolitik
c Neoplatonism
d Hinduism
4 What is ‘emanation’?
a Something that radiates from a person or thing
b The teaching of dialectic
c A form of politics
d A form of therapy
5 What was the name of the great library in Baghdad?
a The House of Fun
b The House of Wisdom
c The House of Books
d The House of Words
6 What is the name of the first Muslim systematic philosopher?
a Al-Razi
b Al-Farabi
c Al-Kindi
d Al-Ghazali
7 Which one of the following is regarded as one of the great ‘Doctors of the Christian Church’?
a Averroës
b Augustine
c Al-Kindi
d Plato
8 Who is the author of the Narnia books?
a C. S. Lewis
b A. A. Milne
c B. B. King
d George R. R. Martin
9 What is the title of Machiavelli’s famous work?
a The King
b The Duke
c The Prince
d The Baron
10 In which country was the Library of Alexandria?
a Greece
b Egypt
c Persia
d Italy
Plato’s writings
The following translations of Plato’s works were used for this book:
Gill, C. (trans.) (1999), Plato: The Symposium. London: Penguin.
Rowe, C. (trans.) (2012), Plato, Republic. London: Penguin.
Saunders, T. (trans.) (1970), The Laws. London: Penguin
Tredennick, H. (trans.) (2003), Plato: The Last Days of Socrates. London: Penguin. Containing Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2008), Gorgias. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2005), Plato: Meno and Other Dialogues. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Containing Meno, Charmides, Lyches, Lysis.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2002), Plato: Phaedrus. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Waterfield, R. (trans.) (2004), Plato: Theaetetus. London: Penguin.
Waterfield. R. (trans.) (2008), Plato: Timaeus and Critias. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Answers
CHAPTER 1
1 b
2 a
3 c
4 c
5 b
6 a
7 b
8 c
9 a
10 d
CHAPTER 2
1 a
2 b
3 b
4 c
5 d
6 d
7 a
8 c
9 c
10 d
CHAPTER 3
1 b
2 d
3 a
4 b
5 a
6 d
7 a
8 c
9 c
10 d
CHAPTER 4
1 a
2 b
3 d
4 d
5 a
6 c
7 b
8 a
9 c
10 a
CHAPTER 5
1 d
2 a
3 b
4 d
5 a
6 a
7 c
8 b
9 c
10 d
CHAPTER 6
1 a
2 b
3 a
4 c
5 b
6 d
7 c
8 d
9 b
10 a
CHAPTER 7
1 d
2 b
3 b
4 a
5 d
6 a
7 a
8 c
9 d
10 c
CHAPTER 8
1 d
2 b
3 b
4 b
5 a
6 d
7 a
8 c
9 a
10 c
CHAPTER 9
1 b
2 d
3 d
4 b
5 c
6 c
7 a
8 c
9 d
10 a
CHAPTER 10
1 d
2 c
3 a
4 b
5 c
6 b
7 c
8 d
9 a
10 d
CHAPTER 11
1 c
2 a
3 b
4 a
5 c
6 a
7 d
8 a
9 b
10 d
CHAPTER 12
1 c
2 a
3 b
4 b
5 a
6 d
7 d
8 a
9 b
10 d
CHAPTER 13
1 d
2 d
3 c
4 a
5 b
6 c
7 b
8 a
9 c
10 b
First published in Great Britain in 2016 by Hodder & Stoughton. An Hachette UK company.
Copyright © Roy Jackson 2016
The right of Roy Jackson to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Database right Hodder &
Stoughton (makers)
The Teach Yourself name is a registered trademark of Hachette UK.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographic rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, John Murray Learning, at the address below.
You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data: a catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: on file
Paperback ISBN 978 1 47360 179 6
eBook ISBN 978 1 47360 180 2
1
The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that any website addresses referred to in this book are correct and active at the time of going to press. However, the publisher and the author have no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content will remain relevant, decent or appropriate.
The publisher has made every effort to mark as such all words which it believes to be trademarks. The publisher should also like to make it clear that the presence of a word in the book, whether marked or unmarked, in no way affects its legal status as a trademark.
Every reasonable effort has been made by the publisher to trace the copyright holders of material in this book. Any errors or omissions should be notified in writing to the publisher, who will endeavour to rectify the situation for any reprints and future editions.
Cover image © shutterstock.com
John Murray Learning policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.
Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.hodder.co.uk
