Gramsci wrote:

spud head wrote:It's too idealistic.

It was written three fuckin' thousand years ago... it can be as idealistic as it want's to be.

It makes more sense than the Bible ever did.

You didn't get my joke, did you?

spud head wrote:You didn't get my joke, did you?

You were joking? I figured you were being straight because that is something that many, many people cite as a reason for scorning Plato.

spud head wrote:You were joking? I figured you were being straight because that is something that many, many people cite as a reason for scorning Plato.

Duh.

Sort of a putz, really.

I'm not too familiar with most of Plato's work. I've read some extended excerpts of some of the most famous Socratic dialogues (Apology, Crito) and those were very good. I'll vote NC because I like what I've read and I hope to read more. I have The Republic, and have been planning on giving it a try.

Great quote on Plato by Betrand Russell: "Aristotle's metaphysics, roughly speaking, may be described as Plato diluted by common sense. He is difficult because Plato and common sense do not mix easily."

I know next to nothing about Plato's metaphysics, so I have no idea if this has any merit or not, but despite that, great quote. It is always hilarious when "respectable and proper" intellectuals try to cut each other down like little kids.

rzs wrote:I'm not too familiar with most of Plato's work. I've read some extended excerpts of some of the most famous Socratic dialogues (Apology, Crito) and those were very good. I'll vote NC because I like what I've read and I hope to read more. I have The Republic, and have been planning on giving it a try.

Great quote on Plato by Betrand Russell: "Aristotle's metaphysics, roughly speaking, may be described as Plato diluted by common sense. He is difficult because Plato and common sense do not mix easily."

I know next to nothing about Plato's metaphysics, so I have no idea if this has any merit or not, but despite that, great quote. It is always hilarious when "respectable and proper" intellectuals try to cut each other down like little kids.

Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy is Crap.

Bertrand Russell, someone probably most known for being an anarchist and a proponent of "free love", off-handedly dismissing philosophers who have been influential for thousands of years: Crap.

NerblyBear wrote:Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy is Crap.

Bertrand Russell, someone probably most known for being an anarchist and a proponent of "free love", off-handedly dismissing philosophers who have been influential for thousands of years: Crap.

Russell was an innovator in logic and the philosophy of language. Otherwise this is dead on. Such dismissiveness is typical of the Anglo-American tradition in philosophy.

As for Plato, not crap. Whether you hate all of his conclusions, the man practically invented the discipline of philosophy. Thanks Plato! You're a swell guy.

Bertrand Russell was not an anarchist.

Chapter Two wrote:Bertrand Russell was not an anarchist.

More of a "weak" pacifist with a general disrespect for authority.

I studied Plato in great detail in college. By far my favorite philosopher along with Spinoza and Leibniz.

Not crap. I actually cried a couple of times reading Plato. The writing and the message is just so beautiful.