Plato Feared That Art Would Lead Us Away From Rather Than Toward It
Dr. Martha C. Beck is Professor of Philosophy at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas. She's the author of xiv books and over fifty book chapters and manufactures on Plato and Carl Jung, Plato and Greek tragedy, Aristotle and Greek tragedy, Aristotle and the United Nations' Capabilities model for human evolution, Aristotle and Systems thinking, Aristotle and Ecology philosophy, Aristotle and feminist theory, the goddesses of Hellenic republic and feminist Jungian psychology, and her experiences growing up equally a liberal.
Her articles have been published in journals in the The states, Greece, The Russian Democracy, the Czech Republic, Commonwealth of australia, and China. She'southward besides delivered papers in Athens, Olympia, Moscow, Petrograd, Beijing, Shang Hai, Prague, and Ascea, Italia.
She received a Fulbright Fellowship to teach Western Thought at an Islamic State University in 2012 and received an Indonesia-funded grant to teach Environmental Ideals at the Islamic Country University in Jakarta in 2017. She welcomes opportunities to teach abroad and hosts a YouTube channel, Dr. Martha Catherine Beck, Greek Philosophy that contains 70-six videos and x Playlists, all focused on the theme, "The Legacy of Aboriginal Greek Civilization in the Era of Globalization".
How did you become interested in Greek philosophy?
My mother was an Art History teacher at the local state university. When I was eight, we went to England. She showed us all the cathedrals, museums, monuments, etc. I began to wonder, "What makes not bad fine art bang-up?" That question has stuck with me.
When I was x, my father, a Methodist minister, marched with Martin Luther King, jr. in Selma, Alabama. I recall it well. People called united states of america and swore at him over the telephone, and so I knew that people disagreed about justice and injustice, virtue, and vice. I was also amidst social unrest connected to the Vietnam War, attention high school from '69-'71. Greed fueled the state of war and in the name of "making the world prophylactic from Communism", we were engaged in building an empire. My male parent preached on these things, as well every bit the need for environmental conservation and sustainable living. All of this got me thinking even more about justice and virtue. Over time, I began to ruminate over more questions like whether the universe is created or eternal, and why that matters in terms of environmental sustainability.
It was in high school that I began intensely reflecting on my environment, and my past experiences with social unrest, injustice, the time to come of the surround, and my father'due south ministries. I wasn't enlightened there was unabridged subject based on this existential practice of questioning all that is, "Philosophy". So, in my 2d semester of my junior year in college, I alleged it my major.
In my studies, I felt Plato'southward story was my story. It felt as I was reading my own mind. Plato stole all my best ideas! I thought that I made those ideas up, but I found out Plato already did a much better task of it than I did. And then, I wanted to be a Plato scholar considering his works resonated so much with me. Plato's dialogues are, to me, a huge map of the whole and all the parts, good and evil, with an paradigm of a human beingness managing to alive by the power of his listen (nous) throughout information technology all. What is piety? (Euthyphro), What is art? (Ion)… I asked these aforementioned questions throughout my life.
I describe Greek philosophy and culture as "Spiritual Humanism". Aristotle's virtues and Socrates' way of life are a paradigm of how to live that can be applied to Jesus (Sermon on the Mount), Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius, Gandhi, and then many others. I apply the word "spiritual" to mean the daimonic every bit Socrates describes it in the Symposium, but equally is implicit throughout Greek myths, tragedy, Homer, Hesiod and and so on. We are built-in to understand the patterns in the world, both in the universe and in human diplomacy. The way we understand these things always leads to a fashion of life.
Greek humanism appeals to our common humanity, making it very relevant today. Greek myths and stories tin can resonate with anyone with any walk of life. The patterns are everywhere and this is becoming more and more obvious. Equally the world is moving abroad from costless and open societies and toward more than authoritarianism, Plato's dialogues are more relevant than ever. I've delivered my lecture on "The Rise and Fall of Athenian Commonwealth" worldwide to a receptive audition that understood my bespeak well.
All of the aforementioned is only a small fraction of why I feel Greek philosophy and civilization are vital and pertinent. My publications tie Aristotle to Greek tragedy, Plato, the Un Capabilities model of development, ecology protection and the formation of sustainable societies, the habituation of children for moderation and sustainability, and the place of the arts in developing a flourishing society.
We must be engaged citizens, to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
Dr. Martha Catherine Beck
What is the nearly important concept that you teach people?
Peradventure it is the model of liberal arts education and the liberal arts educator. This model is disappearing for many reasons. One is overspecialization and the model of higher teaching as the academy model rather than the model of small, liberal arts colleges, similar Plato'due south Academy. My entire undergraduate, graduate, and professional life has been spent in liberal arts colleges. I get to know my students well and they know my character also. Kinesthesia evaluations include date in the life of the college and in volunteer activities beyond it. We must exist engaged citizens, to walk the walk and not just talk the talk.
Lyon College's catalog contains five characteristics of a liberally-minded adult which I have exterior my office, which I tell my students that I structure my classes effectually, to model and I ask them to follow:
- Delivery to truth, agreement that one has to examine what "truth" is or what the word means
- Intellectual honesty (don't think you lot know when you don't know)
- Fairness to opposing points of view (avoid polarization and stereotyping)
- Patience with complexity and ambiguity (the problems nosotros need to solve collectively are very difficult, so have it and don't wait for simple solutions or believe political leaders that claim to have them);
- Tolerance of reasoned dissent
I enquire students on the get-go twenty-four hour period of course if they similar the polarization they are living. In short, they don't. And then, I tell them that the only fashion to cease this is for them to decide to terminate information technology right hither, in this classroom, while we're discussing this incredibly relevant textile. So each pupil presents what they thought of the reading and so other students enquire follow-up questions. I tell them that for their own sake they should determine not to polarize. They volition have to atomic number 82 the nation in twenty years, and they do non want to have to lead a severely divided lodge. And so, now is the fourth dimension that they should begin to create a better future. This idea sets the tone for the semester.
What is the most of import slice of practical advice that we can derive from your work?
I would quote from Seneca'due south On Placidity of Listen, where he talks almost how Socrates lived. Before the 30 Tyrants took over, Socrates was getting upwardly every morn, talking to Athenians, trying to make them transparent about how they use their liberty and accountable for abusing information technology. Preserving a republic requires people to return an account of how they alive and why this way of life promotes flourishing. Subsequently he failed, during the reign of the xxx Tyrants, Socrates yet went out and tried to comfort and encourage those who were grieving about the loss of their democracy, reproach those who had brought this nigh through their greed and ignorance, and set an instance of how to live in the face of repression.
Socrates did not permit fear to command him. I take argued that Socrates is the paradigm example of Aristotle's person with practical and theoretical wisdom. He exercises all the activities of soul in accordance with virtue in a complete life that Aristotle talks virtually.
Do you have a favorite quote that you lot employ?
You are an Athenian, a denizen of the greatest city with the greatest reputation for both wisdom and power; are you lot not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation and honors equally possible, while you do not treat nor give thought to wisdom or truth, or the best possible state of your soul?
Socrates, Apology
What advice would you requite someone who wanted to know more than almost what you do?
Visit my YouTube channel, Dr. Martha Catherine Beck, Greek Philosophy. I have 76 video and 10 playlists all focused on the theme, "The Legacy of Ancient Greek Civilization in the Era of Globalization." Then contact me for a follow-up conversation. I concord with Plato that the written word is not worth much. People project themselves into it and make it into whatever they want or need it to be. The real dialogue is in one's soul, triggered through conversations with other minds. The low-cal of the heed is triggered by ii minds engaged in dialogue.
Suppose yous were to requite a talk or workshop at the original Plato'southward Academy in Athens.
This is why I promise the Center has extensive opportunities for chat in the summers. I spent 16 summers in Greece, but letting my mind be free to think near Plato and Greek civilisation in the style that was driving me crazy. When I read other scholarship, I hated information technology, then I had to figure out what I idea was true that made me call up all of this was then bad. Gradually, I figured out my ain mind. I decided that for 2800 years people have been coming to Greece to recall the civilization and to be inspired in ways they could take dwelling house and inspire others and ameliorate the quality of life where they lived. They are still doing this.
I am hoping that at least some of the people at the Middle are likewise going out into the public and that we can encounter in the summers and talk about our experiences. We should tell our own stories of the kinds of encounters we have and then we should make analogies with something in Plato or an application of something in Aristotle or some other ancient texts. Then nosotros tin can talk most whether nosotros think the analogy is skilful, but by and large how to add to it.
I want scholarship that is always tied non only to a model of a way of life, but to how nosotros are all actually living. I wish nosotros could meet every summertime and encounter long plenty to create friendship bonds and a long history of working together on creating more flourishing societies wherever we live in the world.
Source: https://platosacademy.org/martha-c-beck-spiritual-humanism/
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