Divine Agency and Politics in Plato’s Myth of Atlantis
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George Harvey
Abstract
This paper approaches the Critias straightforwardly as a work of political philosophy but gives greater attention to Athens’ opponent, Atlantis, whose founding, political organization, and eventual decline each offer important lessons about the aims of legislation and political life. I begin by comparing the foundation of the two cities as presented in Critias’ myth, with a special focus on the role of divine persuasion (I). I then describe the political organization of Athens and Atlantis, showing how they reflect the different ways in which their founding gods exercised divine persuasion (II). Next, I focus on the decline of Atlantis and the causes behind it (III). Finally (IV), I discuss the lessons that I think can be gathered from the foregoing sections and show how the themes that emerge from the comparison of the two cities anticipate their more extensive exploration in the Laws.
References
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics on the Sameness of Friendship and Justice
- Chrysippus’ Theory of Cosmic Pneuma: Some Remarks in Light of Medical and Biological Doctrines on Respiration, Digestion and Pulse
- The Non-kinetic Origins of Aristotle’s Concept of Ἐνέργεια
- Plato’s Timaeus and the Limits of Natural Science
- Plato’s Use of Mogis (Scarcely, with Toil) and the Accessibility of the Divine
- Divine Agency and Politics in Plato’s Myth of Atlantis
- The Menaechmi
- Aristotle on the Beginning of Animal Life and Soul Activities
- Aristotle’s Logic of Biological Diversity
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Research Articles
- Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics on the Sameness of Friendship and Justice
- Chrysippus’ Theory of Cosmic Pneuma: Some Remarks in Light of Medical and Biological Doctrines on Respiration, Digestion and Pulse
- The Non-kinetic Origins of Aristotle’s Concept of Ἐνέργεια
- Plato’s Timaeus and the Limits of Natural Science
- Plato’s Use of Mogis (Scarcely, with Toil) and the Accessibility of the Divine
- Divine Agency and Politics in Plato’s Myth of Atlantis
- The Menaechmi
- Aristotle on the Beginning of Animal Life and Soul Activities
- Aristotle’s Logic of Biological Diversity
