The Teleology of Action in Plato's Republic

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Ancient
Cover of the book The Teleology of Action in Plato's Republic by Andrew Payne, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Andrew Payne ISBN: 9780192536693
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: October 13, 2017
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Andrew Payne
ISBN: 9780192536693
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: October 13, 2017
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

In many discussions of ancient philosophy, teleology is acknowledged as an important theme. How do we act for a particular end or purpose? One common answer describes humans as acting with the intention of achieving a goal. A person selects particular actions with the thought that these actions will lead to that goal. Andrew Payne accepts that this is one good answer to our question but proposes that it is not the only one. In Plato's Republic, Socrates appeals to a different understanding of how humans act for the sake of ends as they live together in political communities and pursue knowledge. As they carry out activities that are necessary for human flourishing, their actions can produce unintended results that signal the full completion of human capacities. For example, performing the actions of a just individual can help promote the establishment of a just society as an unintended result. Such unintended results qualify as ends or purposes of human action. This volume fully explores this functional teleology of action in Plato's Republic.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

In many discussions of ancient philosophy, teleology is acknowledged as an important theme. How do we act for a particular end or purpose? One common answer describes humans as acting with the intention of achieving a goal. A person selects particular actions with the thought that these actions will lead to that goal. Andrew Payne accepts that this is one good answer to our question but proposes that it is not the only one. In Plato's Republic, Socrates appeals to a different understanding of how humans act for the sake of ends as they live together in political communities and pursue knowledge. As they carry out activities that are necessary for human flourishing, their actions can produce unintended results that signal the full completion of human capacities. For example, performing the actions of a just individual can help promote the establishment of a just society as an unintended result. Such unintended results qualify as ends or purposes of human action. This volume fully explores this functional teleology of action in Plato's Republic.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Theories of Performance by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Centripetal Democracy by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book The Royal Navy and the German Threat 1901-1914 by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Postcolonial Borges by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Epistemic Consequentialism by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book The Reflective Life by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Virtue at Work by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Kierkegaard's Theology of Encounter by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Risk: A Very Short Introduction by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Sand and Silicon by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Modern British Political History, 1800-2000 by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Enoch from Antiquity to the Middle Ages, Volume I by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Crime Scene Management and Evidence Recovery by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Evolution of the Cerebellar Sense of Self by Andrew Payne
Cover of the book Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness Medicine by Andrew Payne
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy