Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
  1. Home
  2. Books
  3. Listening to the Cicadas
  • Cited by 93
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Online publication date:
March 2010
Print publication year:
1987
Online ISBN:
9780511659201
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511659201
Subjects:
Classical Studies, Classical Philosophy, Classical Studies (General), Ancient Philosophy, Philosophy
Series:
Cambridge Classical Studies
Information

Book description

This full-length study of Plato's dialogue Phaedrus, now in paperback, is written in the belief that such concerted scrutiny of a single dialogue is an important part of the project of understanding Plato so far as possible 'from the inside' - of gaining a feel for the man's philosophy. The focus of this account is on how the resources both of persuasive myth and of formal argument, for all that Plato sets them in strong contrast, nevertheless complement and reinforce each other in his philosophy. Not only is the dialogue in its formal structure a dovetail of myth and argument, but the philosophic life that it praises is also shaped by an acknowledgement of the limitations of argument and the importance of mythical understanding. By means of this correlation of form and content Plato invites his readers, through the very act of reading, to take a first step along the path of the philosophical life.

Reviews

‘ … a very bold, worthwhile and stimulating experiment in this exciting field … Ferrari writes in a witty, rather mischievous and sophisticated prose style … [and] he deserves sympathy and approval for his attempt to find a style which is in keeping with, and will do justice to, the serious play of the Phaedrus … [Ferrari] includes some excellent discussion of particular sections of the dialogue, and the author’s method - close reading and sustained attention to the literary and historical context of Plato’s words - can only be applauded.’

Source: Phronesis

‘ … this is a sophisticated and challenging book, which in many ways sets new standards for the treatment of Plato as ironist and literary artist, not least in its scrupulous attention to the text.’

Source: Classical Review

Refine List

Actions for selected content:

Select all | Deselect all
  • View selected items
  • Export citations
  • Download PDF (zip)
  • Save to Kindle
  • Save to Dropbox
  • Save to Google Drive

Save Search

You can save your searches here and later view and run them again in "My saved searches".

Please provide a title, maximum of 40 characters.
Cancel
×

Contents

Contents

Metrics

Altmetric attention score

Full text views

Total number of HTML views: 0
Total number of PDF views: 0 *
Loading metrics...

Book summary page views

Total views: 0 *
Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Usage data cannot currently be displayed.