Time: 9:30am - 10:45am on Thursdays (BST)
Term Date: 08 May - 17 July
Presenter: Brendan Crehan - Brendan has been a student and tutor in the School for many years, teaching courses in Plato’s philosophy, Advaita philosophy, and Meditation.
The day after Socrates gives an outstanding discourse on the ideal constitution of a state and the condition of the human soul, he requires his companions to give an equally detailed account. He wants to see his own city Athens brought to life in some great struggle for survival, to test whether she really understands and displays virtue under the most trying of circumstances.
Critias, having heard an ancient tale from his great grandfather who heard it from Solon, rises to meet the challenge. He tells of the famous actions undertaken by the people of ancient Athens and in doing so he tells the story of the city of Atlantis.
It may be that Socrates’ ideal constitution told the previous day may have existed in ancient times.
Next to speak is Timaeus, an astronomer who has made the nature of the universe his special study. He describes the generation of the world and the creation of man in great detail. The Timaeus was highly regarded in medieval times when it was the only dialogue of Plato available to be read and extant.
Classes will be held online via Zoom