'Compelling from start to finish...Downie does full justice to an extraordinary life' Pete Davies, author of All Played Out. A stunning new biography of Socrates, the iconic captain of the greatest Brazil side never to win the World Cup. Socrates was always special. A hugely talented athlete who graduated in medicine yet drank and smoked to excess. The attacking midfielder stood out - and not just because of his 6'4" frame. Fans were enthralled by his inch-perfect passes, his coolness in front of goal and his back heel, the trademark move that singled him out as the most unique footballer of his generation. Off the pitch, he was just as original, with a dedication to politics and social causes that no player has ever emulated. His biggest impact came as leader of Corinthians Democracy - a movement that gave everyone from the kitman to the president an equal say in the running of the club. At a time when Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship, it was truly revolutionary. Passionate and principled, entertaining and erudite, Socrates was as contradictory as he was complex. He was a socialist who voted for a return of Brazil's monarchy, a fiercely independent individual who was the ultimate team player, and a romantic who married four times and fathered six children. Armed with Socrates' unpublished memoir and hours of newly discovered interviews, Andrew Downie has put together the most comprehensive and compelling account of this iconic figure. Based on conversations with family members, close friends and former team-mates, this is a brilliant biography of a man who always stood up for what he believed in, whatever the cost. 'Brilliantly written and researched. Amazing life.' Alex Bellos, author of Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life
A Dominican-born academic tells the story of how the Great Books transformed his life—and why they have the power to speak to people of all backgrounds What is the value of a liberal education? Traditionally characterized by a rigorous engagement with the classics of Western thought and literature, this approach to education is all but extinct in American universities, replaced by flexible distribution requirements and ever-narrower academic specialization. Many academics attack the very idea of a Western canon as chauvinistic, while the general public increasingly doubts the value of the humanities. In Rescuing Socrates, Dominican-born American academic Roosevelt Montás tells the story of how a liberal education transformed his life, and offers an intimate account of the relevance of the Great Books today, especially to members of historically marginalized communities. Montás emigrated from the Dominican Republic to Queens, New York, when he was twelve and encountered the Western classics as an undergraduate in Columbia University’s renowned Core Curriculum, one of America’s last remaining Great Books programs. The experience changed his life and determined his career—he went on to earn a PhD in English and comparative literature, serve as director of Columbia’s Center for the Core Curriculum, and start a Great Books program for low-income high school students who aspire to be the first in their families to attend college. Weaving together memoir and literary reflection, Rescuing Socrates describes how four authors—Plato, Augustine, Freud, and Gandhi—had a profound impact on Montás’s life. In doing so, the book drives home what it’s like to experience a liberal education—and why it can still remake lives.
While scholars typically view Plato's engagement with medicine as uniform and largely positive, Susan B. Levin argues that from the Gorgias through the Laws, his handling of medicine unfolds in several key phases. Further, she shows that Plato views medicine as an important rival for authority on phusis (nature) and eudaimonia (flourishing). Levin's arguments rest on careful attention both to Plato and to the Hippocratic Corpus. Levin shows that an evident but unexpressed tension involving medicine's status emerges in the Gorgias and is explored in Plato's critiques of medicine in the Symposium and Republic. In the Laws, however, this rivalry and tension dissolve. Levin addresses the question of why Plato's rivalry with medicine is put to rest while those with rhetoric and poetry continue. On her account, developments in his views of human nature, with their resulting impact on his political thought, drive Plato's striking adjustments involving medicine in the Laws. Levin's investigation of Plato is timely: for the first time in the history of bioethics, the value of ancient philosophy is receiving notable attention. Most discussions focus on Aristotle's concept of phron sis (practical wisdom); here, Levin argues that Plato has much to offer bioethics as it works to address pressing concerns about the doctor-patient tie, medical professionalism, and medicine's relationship to society.
This is the 5th volume in the series of popular volumes by Peter Kreeft, in which the "Father of Philosophy", Socrates, cross-examines various other important philosophers and thinkers (in previous books he examined Marx, Sarte, Machiavelli, and Socrates himself.) Kreeft states that Socrates and Descartes are perhaps the two most important philosophers who have ever lived, because they are the two who made the most difference to all philosophy after them. These two fathers of philosophy stand at the beginning of the two basic philosophical options: the classical and the modern. Kreeft focuses on seven features that unite these two major philosophers and distinguish them from all others. So this dialog between Socrates and Descartes is a dialog between the fundamental stages in the history of philosophy, the history of consciousness, and the history of Western culture. Like his other works in this popular series, this book is profound and witty reading that makes for an entertaining and insightful exploration of modern philosophy. It will appeal to both the common reader as well as to those more philosophically inclined.
A revisionist account of the most famous trial and execution in Western civilization — one with great resonance for modern society In the spring of 399 BCE, the elderly philosopher Socrates stood trial in his native Athens. The court was packed, and after being found guilty by his peers, Socrates died by drinking a cup of poison hemlock, his execution a defining moment in ancient civilization. Yet time has transmuted the facts into a fable. Aware of these myths, Robin Waterfield has examined the actual Greek sources, presenting a new Socrates, not an atheist or guru of a weird sect, but a deeply moral thinker, whose convictions stood in stark relief to those of his former disciple, Alcibiades, the hawkish and self-serving military leader. Refusing to surrender his beliefs even in the face of death, Socrates, as Waterfield reveals, was determined to save a morally decayed country that was tearing itself apart. Why Socrates Died is then not only a powerful revisionist book, but a work whose insights translate clearly from ancient Athens to the present day.
Returning from the battle of Potidaea, Socrates reenters the city only to find it changed, with new leadership in the making. Socrates assumes the mask of physician in order to diagnose the city’s condition in the persons of the young and charismatic Charmides and his ambitious and formidable guardian Critias. Beneath the cloak of their self-presentations, Doctor Socrates discovers a profound and communicable disease: their incipient tyranny, “the greatest sickness of the soul.” He thereby is able to “foresee” their future and their role in the oligarchy (The Thirty Tyrants) that overthrows the democracy at the end of the Peloponnesian War. The unusual diagnostic instrument of this physician of the city: the question of sophrosyne (customarily translated as moderation). The analysis of the soul of this popular favorite uncovers a distorted development with little prospect of self-knowledge, and that of the guardian, a profound disabling ignorance, deluded and perverted by his presumed practical wisdom. Alongside on the bench sits Socrates whose ignorance, by contrast, shows itself to be enabling, measured and prospective. In this way, the profound ignorance of the tyrant and the profound ignorance of the philosopher are made to mutually illuminate one another. In the process, Levine brings us to see Plato’s extended apologia or defense of Socrates as “a teacher of tyrants” and his counter-indictment of the city for its unthinking acceptance of its leaders. Moreover, in the face of modern skepticism, we are brought to see how such “value judgments” are possible, how Plato conceives the prospects for practical judgment (phronȇsis). In addition we witness the care with which Plato presents his penetrating diagnoses even amidst compromised circumstances. Levine, further, is at pains to situate the specific dialogic issues in their larger significance for the philosophic tradition. Lastly, the author’s inviting style encourages the reader to think along with Socrates. The question of tyranny is always relevant. The question of our ignorance is always immediate. The conversation about sophrosyne needs to be resumed.
"This book argues that Socrates, Athenian citizen in Classical Greece, was a Taoist sage and Zen master. His life was a work of art, rooted in the art of detached engagement: Taoist Wu-wei and Buddhist Madhyamaka. Socrates was the offspring of a philosophic tradition stretching back a century and a half, spread across the eastern Mediterranean. Schindler introduces these Presocratic thinkers, examines the life and teachings of Socrates, and explores Plato as a mythologizing philosopher. Taoism, Buddhism and Zen are introduced throughout the discourse, showing how Eastern Wisdom is reflected in The Birth of Western Philosophy. The adventure concludes with an exploration of the Greco-Buddhist insight that to be is to inter-be. The recovery of this idea overlaps with the quantum paradigm shift in contemporary physics, ecology and spirituality."--P. [4] of cover.
Peter Kreeft imagines what would happen if Socrates woke up today and enrolled in divinity school. Kreeft's new introduction for this edition highlights the inspirations for the book and the key questions of truth and faith it addresses.
This issue of SOCRATES has been divided into four sections. The first section of this issue is Language & Literature- Persian, which contains an article authored by Nazia Jafri. In this paper, hidden corners and unfamiliar life and priceless works of Hussain Quli Mastan, who was the the first Iranian photo-journalist, has been introduced. The second section of this issue if Language and Literature-English. Paper authored by Dr. P. Saravanakumar studies the use of a mask in Girish Karnad’s play “Tughlaq.” Tughlaq is the most complex and complicated of Girish Karnad’s works. Paper authored by R. Kaliyaperumal highlights the Science and Technology in Dan Brown’s Digital Fortress. Paper authored by Vincent P discusses Black Community Voice Echoes on Eradicate of Identity in Toni Morrison’s Novel Home. While exploring the twenty-first-century work Home we find the voices, which indicates the voice of the colonised people. A deep study of this novel exposes the events and happenings at the time of colonisation. It also exposes their emotions and feelings. The third section of this issue is Philosophy. Paper authored by Giuseppe Gagliano intends to identify several key concepts that emerge from an analysis of Aron’s acclaimed work on the role played by Marxist-Leninist ideology in the development of the 20th-century philosophic thought. Paper authored by Rocco Angelo Astore is an argument in favor of the Universal health care. The fourth section of this issue is Politics, Law and Governance. Paper authored by Dr. Galyna Fesenko and Dr. Tetiana Fesenko aims to outline the role of e-democracy within the setting of the Eastern Partnership program. The article provides the comparative review of E-Government progress in six EaP countries in 2009 – 2016. Paper authored by Dr. Surendra Misra is related to Governance, Good Governance and development of different sectors in India. Paper authored by Dr. Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi focuses on the E-Governance initiatives that have changed the life style of rural citizens and in which the citizens derive benefit through direct transactions with the services provided by the union and the provincial governments. The paper also highlights the variety of constraints in implementing the E-governance projects in rural areas.
This issue of SOCRATES has been divided into three sections. The first section of this issue is English Literature. The paper authored by Jasmine Fernandez, Dr C Upendra and Dr Amarjeet Nayak explore the medical thriller Coma through a grotesque lens. This study provides us with the idea that grotesquery is employed as a template to translate meanings and interpretations of medical thrillers. Through multiple responses as elicited by the grotesque, these thrillers engage with readers differently and hence produce varied responses. The second section of this issue is Philosophy. The first paper of this section has been authored by Ghasemali Kouchnani and Nadia Maftouni explores the Semiotics of Love in Suhrawardi’s Allegorical Philosophy. The paper concludes that the theme of Suhrawardi’s stories is mystical love and the wayfarer loves God. This love is to be spiritual emotion rather than passionate love simply because, on his way, the seeker must overcome his own inner and outer senses. These perceptions are symbolized by ten towers, ten graves, ten flyers, ten wardens, five chambers and five gates. These are the allegories of perceptions, i.e., the five internal and the five external senses could be seen in “Treatise on Towers”, “A Tale of Occidental Exile”, “The Simurgh’s Shrill Cry”, “The Red Intellect”, and “On the Reality of Love”. The second paper of this section has been authored by Alexandros Schismenos. The paper represents an opinion that, as a chimera, time-travel is non-feasible and impossible. To support his claim the author briefly outlines the origins of the time-travel concept and its epistemological and metaphysical/ontological conditions. If these conditions prove to be absurd, the logical impossibility of time-travel will have been demonstrated. The third section of this issue is Political science. The first paper of this section has been authored by Dr Michelle L Blakely and Dr Curtis R Blakely. This paper represents the first application of the Game theory to the field of penology, conceptualizing the relationship between prisons and prisoners as a “game” provides insight into the motivations, strategic behaviors and decision-making processes of its players. The second paper of this section has been authored by Rotimi Adeforiti which tends to identify the factors responsible for the crises of integration in the Nigeria federal system. The paper concludes that the foundations of federalism were laid by the British consciously or unconsciously for the existence of Nigeria. The country subscribed to federal system of government and had been practicing it. The problem facing Nigeria federal system today among others is no longer amalgamation of the country but the interest of various elite or elite ‘to be’ in the country. The third paper of this section has been authored by Gizachew Wondie Gifayehu which attempts to analyse the development and practice of citizenship and citizenship rights in Ethiopia. The fourth paper of this section has been authored by Prof. Inderjeet Singh Sodhi. This paper deals with the current status of water management in India and its emerging issues and challenges. The fifth paper of this section has been authored by Dr Prakash Chand Kandpal. This paper focuses on the development of sustainable cities, highlighting the actions and initiatives undertaken by the Government of Delhi to combat the menace of pollution in Delhi. The sixth paper of this section authored by Isha presents the concept of Public-Private Partnership and also evaluates its progress in school education in India. The paper concludes that the introduction of the PPP model in school education in India could help in the achievement of desired results as the payments are made by the government against the services delivered through the private sector. But there is a risk sharing between both government and private sector which is helpful for the delivery of public services in an efficient manner. However, PPP in the education sector has a long way to go as the schools approved under PPP model in some states of India like Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Tripura and West Bengal are still not functioning. The seventh paper of this section has been authored by Sisay Assemrie Temesgen. This paper analyzes the moral acceptability of violent force and retaliation at the individual and community level, and in the arena of national and international politics.
