MANLINESS AS THE ART OF DISTINCTION

Authors

  • Елена Валентиновна Алымова St. Petersburg State University, 7–9, Universitetskaya nab., St. Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu17.2016.401

Abstract

Th is article is dedicated to the theme of manliness in Plato’s philosophy. Th e starting point is Plato’s dialogue “Laches” where this subject is brought into question. Our main argumentation is based on the materials provided by the dialogue Republic because this is the dialogue where manliness is being considered as one of the principal human und political qualities. Th e theme of manliness is set in a context which includes a series of concepts of great importance such as Goodness, Friendship, Liberty, Intelligence and last but not least Philosophy. Manliness is characteristic of the guards who in order to best perform their role and defend the polis, they must be able to draw the line between that which belongs to their polis and that which does not. Th e capacity to distinguish constitutes the essential nature of the guards. Th is nature is regarded as substantially philosophical, but needs to be actualized. Th e way to do it is to educate the guards. So we arrive at the problem of paideia. It should be kept in mind that the main purpose of “Th e State” is to elucidate the structure and the nature of the human soul. Th e guards whose inherent privilege is manliness occupy an intermediate position in the system of the polis and consequently in that of the soul and correspond to the intellectual capacity responsible for ratiocination and rational choice. Manliness is represented within the following conceptual line: manliness as valor of the soldier, as excellence of the guard, as citizenship, as valor of the free. Th e relevant contexts of Plato’s dialogues are given close consideration, the results of linguistic studies which corroborate the relevant theses are adduced. Refs 9.

Keywords:

manliness, goodness, intelligence, knowledge, paideia, Plato, “Laches”, “The State

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References

Литература

Pappe W. Wörterbuch der griechischen Eigennamen. 3 Aufl . Bearbeitet von G. E. Benseler // Pappe W. Handwörterbuch der griechischen Sprache: In 4 Bde. Bd. 3. Braunschweig: Druck und Verlag von Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn 1911. 1762 S.

Platonis Laches // Platonis Opera: In V t. T. III / Recognovit brevique adnotatione critica instruxit

Burnet. Oxford: Oxford University Press 1903. P. 178–201.

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Platonis Respublica / Recognovit brevique adnotatione critica instruxit S. R. Slings. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2003. 428 p.

Ельмслев Л. Пролегомены к теории языка. М.: URSS 2006. 247 с.

Бенвенист Э. Словарь индоевропейских социальных терминов. М.: Прогресс — Универс 1995. 456 с.

Schadewaldt W. Die Anfänge der Philosophie bei den Griechen. Die Vorsokratiker und ihre Voraussetzungen. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp 1995. 521 S.

Frisk H. Etymologisches Wörterbuch: In 3 Bde. Heidelberg: Carl Winter Universitätsverlag 1960– 1972. Bd. 2. 1154 S.

Chantraine P. Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque. Histoire des Mots: 4 T. Paris: Éditions Klincksieck 1968–1980. T. 3. 353 p.

References

Pappe W. Wörterbuch der griechischen Eigennamen. 3 Aufl . [Dictionary of the Greek Personal Names. 3 Edition]. Pappe W. Handwörterbuch der griechischen Sprache: In 4 Bde. Bd. 3 [Pappe W. Dictionary of the Greek Personal Names: In 4 Vols. Vol. 3.]. Ed. by G. E. Benseler. Braunschweig Druck und Verlag von Friedrich Vieweg und Sohn 1911. 1762 S.

Platonis Laches. Platonis Opera: In V t. T. III. Recognovit brevique adnotatione critica instruxit I. Burnet. Oxford Oxford University Press 1903. P. 178–201.

Platon. Gosudarstvo [Th e State]. Platon. Sobranie sochinenii: v 4 t. T. 3 [Plato. Th e Works: In 4 Vol. Vol. 3]. Moscow Mysl Publ.1994 pp. 79–420. (In Russian)

Platonis Respublica. Recognovit brevique adnotatione critica instruxit S. R. Slings. Oxford Oxford University Press 2003. 428 p.

El’mslev L. Prolegomeny k teorii iazyka [Prolegomena to a Th eory of Language]. Moscow URSS Publ. 2006. 247 p. (In Russian)

Benvenist E. Slovar’ indoevropeiskikh sotsial’nykh terminov [Dictionary of the Indo-European Institutions]. Moscow Progress — Univers Publ. 1995. 456 p. (In Russian)

Schadewaldt W. Die Anfänge der Philosophie bei den Griechen. Die Vorsokratiker und ihre Voraussetzungen. Frankfurt am Main Suhrkamp Publ. 1995. 521 S.

Frisk H. Etymologisches Wörterbuch: In 3 Bde. Heidelberg Carl Winter Universitätsverlag 1960–1972. Bd. 2. 1154 S.

Chantraine P. Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue grecque. Histoire des Mots: 4 T. Paris Éditions Klincksieck 1968–1980 t. 3. 353 p.

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Published

2018-10-07

How to Cite

Алымова, Е. В. (2018). MANLINESS AS THE ART OF DISTINCTION. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies, 32(4), 4–12. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu17.2016.401

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 4 (2016): Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Series 17. PHILOSOPHY. CONFLICT STUDIES. CULTURE STUDIES. RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

Section

Philosophy

License

Articles of "Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.