Modern Philosopher Kings - (Edinburgh Studies in Comparative Political Theory and Intellectual History) by Haig Patapan
About this item
Highlights
- Can wisdom and power, philosophy and politics be combined to secure justice?
- Author(s): Haig Patapan
- 216 Pages
- History, Social History
- Series Name: Edinburgh Studies in Comparative Political Theory and Intellectual History
Description
About the Book
Explores modern attempts to resolve the enduring question of the philosopher king - whether it is possible to combine wisdom and power to secure justice
Book Synopsis
Can wisdom and power, philosophy and politics be combined to secure justice? Or are there formidable tensions, even antagonism between them? Socrates presented the philosopher king as an aspiration, a remedy for the ills of the world. He also called it a paradox, a challenging and perplexing innovation. Ever since, the philosopher king has been an enduring and fascinating question as well as a political aspiration. Modern Philosopher Kings examines the philosopher king as a paradox and an ambitious modern project. Through a series of diverse studies ranging from the prophet, intellectual, artist, advisor, scientist and 'the people' it examines modern attempts to unite wisdom and power. In doing so it reveals the different ways and the extent to which wisdom can be empowered and power ennobled.
Review Quotes
Haig Patapan's book proposes a learned and original approach to the notion of power analysed in conjunction with wisdom, and adds ground-breaking scholarship to the fields of both political theory and comparative philosophy.--Francesco Borghesi, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia