Platonism
A Concise History from the Early Academy to Late Antiquity

The first comprehensive account of Platonism from the foundation of Plato's Academy in the fourth century BC to late antiquity.

Mauro Bonazzi (Author), David Sedley (Preface by), Sergio Knipe (Translated by)

9781009253420, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 April 2023

216 pages
22.3 x 14.7 x 1.9 cm, 0.45 kg

'This concise and stimulating critical discussion of the entire tradition from the Early Academy to the Neoplatonic schools reveals the existence of multiple Platonisms. While they range philosophically from the scepticism of the Hellenistic Academy to the elaborate metaphysics of late Antiquity, Bonazzi shows very successfully how each of these iterations was motivated by the unifying influence of Plato's works.' Myrto Hatzimichali, University of Cambridge

The task of philosophy, the French philosopher Gilles Deleuze once wrote, is to 'overturn Platonism'. This might be true, if only we could define what Platonism is. In this clear and accessible book Mauro Bonazzi provides the first comprehensive introduction to ancient Platonism. He begins his story with Plato's Academy before moving on to the sceptical turn which occurred during the Hellenistic centuries. He then explains the theologically oriented interpretation of Plato typical of Middle Platonists and concludes with the metaphysical systems of the Neoplatonists. Platonism has often been regarded as no more than a trivial repetition of the same doctrines. This book, however, demonstrates how the attempts of Platonists over the centuries to engage with Plato's thought constitute one of the most philosophically challenging moments in the history of ancient philosophy.

1. The Early Academy
2. Platonism and Scepticism? The Academy in the Hellenistic Centuries
3. Towards the System: Platonism in the Early Imperial Age
4. The Triumph of the System: Neoplatonism
Appendix 1. The Platonists and Politics
Appendix 2. Platonism and Christianity.

Subject Areas: Western philosophy: Ancient, to c 500 [HPCA]