This work considers the current crisis in the Western world, caused by the pandemic, war, energy supply issues, and other related disturbances, and its potential impact on current educational models, which are being reformed in various countries and attempts to relate it with historical precedents from classical antiquity that were a reaction to crises of ancient democracy through more or less utopian proposals for the reform of the traditional educational system put forward by two great thinkers: Plato and Aristotle. Our aim is to try to summarize the importance for these two thinkers of the education of individual character in the pursuit of the common goods of various political communities by uniting the wills of the citizens. The methodology used is rereading the fundamental passages of the classical sources on character and education in the young, comparing them with the points of view of most of the research, summarized in the assessments of the great manuals of the history of education. Despite being a well-known theme, it is worthwhile returning to these passages for an updated reflection in our contemporary world. Thus, it is apparent that, in spite of the obvious divergences between the philosophical systems of Plato and Aristotle, there is a curious similarity in the case of character education as the key to solve the problems posed for a society in times of crisis.
This paper focuses on the religious background of lawgiving and its mythical models in books I-IV of the Laws. This latest of Plato's Works deals with the main tasks of a legislator in the ideal political community. In this dialogue, the lawgiver (nomothetes) is the heir of a long Greek tradition with mythical and historical forerunners (Solon, Lycurgus, Epimenides, etc.) who had a special relation with the divinity. Perhaps the best example of this kind of divine lawgiver is Minos, who was able of knowing the Gods' will and received from them the holy laws. In that aspect, Plato depends on the legendary nomothetai from myth and dwells heavily in oracular procedures as a way of communication with divinity and acquisition of decrees or confirmation of laws. If our view is correct, the model for the best possible constitution comes from Divine Wisdom (i.e. Philosophy) through oracular mediation from their mythical origins in Crete and Egypt. The medium between Gods and Men and its mantic practices – as the holy men (theioi andres) from myth and archaic Greek politics – seems a key figure for a better understanding of Plato's most complex dialogue.
The influence of Neoplatonic themes and leitmotivs can be traced in Greek literature during the Late Roman and Byzantine periods, especially in hexametric poetry where ancient Homeric models were updated and enriched with theological and philosophical nuances. This article examines the origin of Neoplatonic Aesthetics and Poetics in the context of this philosophical school by classifying the first examples of the use of poetry in Neoplatonism and aiming at some general taxonomy of Neoplatonic poetry. The central focus is on early Byzantine poetry: the so-called Nonnian School (fifth-seventh centuries), arguably the first example of the application of such aesthetics. Examples from several poets, such as Nonnus, Christodorus, Paul the Silentiary, John of Gaza and George of Pisidia are examined. Lastly, I present some instances of later Neoplatonic poetry, with a survey of select examples of Middle and Late Byzantine literature. From its very beginning, this poetry was influenced by Neoplatonism, a common ground for all Byzantine philosophy and theology. The aim of this contribution is to provide a general overview of the issue of Neoplatonism and Poetics in pre-modern Greek Literature.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.