Four Fundamental Aspects of the Reversal of Platonism
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Leonard Lawlor
Abstract
This essay attempts to conceive precisely what is included in the idea of reversing Platonism. It shows that there are four fundamental aspects that derive from Plato’s dialogues. First, the aspect of thought conceived as interior monologue, from the Theatetus. Second, multiplicity, which comes from the Parmenides. Third, the aspect of an involuntary stimulus to think, from the Republic, Book VII. Finally, the aspect of imagining political life on the basis of the conception of the soul, from the Republic, Book II. These four aspects revolve around two more fundamental ideas: the reversal of Platonism (as Deleuze has shown), conceiving the ideas (forms or essences) as events and (as Derrida has implied) reducing violence to the very least violence. I attempt to actualize this aim by a “hyperbolic Gelassenheit” (letting be), the only genuine reversal of Platonism.
Abstract
This essay attempts to conceive precisely what is included in the idea of reversing Platonism. It shows that there are four fundamental aspects that derive from Plato’s dialogues. First, the aspect of thought conceived as interior monologue, from the Theatetus. Second, multiplicity, which comes from the Parmenides. Third, the aspect of an involuntary stimulus to think, from the Republic, Book VII. Finally, the aspect of imagining political life on the basis of the conception of the soul, from the Republic, Book II. These four aspects revolve around two more fundamental ideas: the reversal of Platonism (as Deleuze has shown), conceiving the ideas (forms or essences) as events and (as Derrida has implied) reducing violence to the very least violence. I attempt to actualize this aim by a “hyperbolic Gelassenheit” (letting be), the only genuine reversal of Platonism.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- List of Abbreviations IX
- Hermeneutic Philosophies of Social Science: Introduction 1
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I. Science and Method: Towards Hermeneutic Phenomenology of Social Science
- Toward an Interpretative or Hermeneutic Social Science 25
- Quantum Mechanics and the Social Sciences 51
- A Critical Hermeneutics of Agency: Cultural Studies as Critical Social Theory 63
- Overcoming Naturalism from Within: Dilthey, Nature, and the Human Sciences 89
- Hermeneutics from the Inside-Out and the Outside-In—And How Postmodernism Blew It All Wide Open 109
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II. Reflexive and Relational Hermeneutics
- The Sciences of Subjectivity 123
- Studies of Empirical Ontology and Ontological Difference 143
- Hermeneutics and Its Discontents in Philosophy of Science: On Bruno Latour, the “Science Wars”, Mockery, and Immortal Models 163
- On the Importance of Getting Things Straight 189
- Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Concept of the Horizon and Its Ethico-Political Critique 199
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III. Practice and Application: Hermeneutics, Social Theory
- Gadamer’s Hermeneutics as Practical Philosophy 219
- The ‘New’ Sociology of Knowledge 237
- Taking Plurality Seriously with Michel De Certeau: From History to ‘Reception Sociolinguistics’ 267
- Pragmatism and Hermeneutics 287
- Make It Scientific: Theories of Education from Dewey to Gadamer 295
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IV. Truth and Life: Life-Philosophy and History, Psychology and Theology
- The Hermeneutical Human and Social Sciences 315
- Life, Metaphysics, History: Reflections on the Contemporary Relevance of Dilthey’s Philosophy of Life 341
- Four Fundamental Aspects of the Reversal of Platonism 357
- Heidegger: Hermeneutics as “Preparation” for Thinking 373
- Hermeneutic Reflections on Descartes’ Introduction to His Meditations on First Philosophy 387
- List of Contributors 427
- Index 431
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- List of Abbreviations IX
- Hermeneutic Philosophies of Social Science: Introduction 1
-
I. Science and Method: Towards Hermeneutic Phenomenology of Social Science
- Toward an Interpretative or Hermeneutic Social Science 25
- Quantum Mechanics and the Social Sciences 51
- A Critical Hermeneutics of Agency: Cultural Studies as Critical Social Theory 63
- Overcoming Naturalism from Within: Dilthey, Nature, and the Human Sciences 89
- Hermeneutics from the Inside-Out and the Outside-In—And How Postmodernism Blew It All Wide Open 109
-
II. Reflexive and Relational Hermeneutics
- The Sciences of Subjectivity 123
- Studies of Empirical Ontology and Ontological Difference 143
- Hermeneutics and Its Discontents in Philosophy of Science: On Bruno Latour, the “Science Wars”, Mockery, and Immortal Models 163
- On the Importance of Getting Things Straight 189
- Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Concept of the Horizon and Its Ethico-Political Critique 199
-
III. Practice and Application: Hermeneutics, Social Theory
- Gadamer’s Hermeneutics as Practical Philosophy 219
- The ‘New’ Sociology of Knowledge 237
- Taking Plurality Seriously with Michel De Certeau: From History to ‘Reception Sociolinguistics’ 267
- Pragmatism and Hermeneutics 287
- Make It Scientific: Theories of Education from Dewey to Gadamer 295
-
IV. Truth and Life: Life-Philosophy and History, Psychology and Theology
- The Hermeneutical Human and Social Sciences 315
- Life, Metaphysics, History: Reflections on the Contemporary Relevance of Dilthey’s Philosophy of Life 341
- Four Fundamental Aspects of the Reversal of Platonism 357
- Heidegger: Hermeneutics as “Preparation” for Thinking 373
- Hermeneutic Reflections on Descartes’ Introduction to His Meditations on First Philosophy 387
- List of Contributors 427
- Index 431
