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A unique interpretation of Plato's account of moderation and the contemporary relevance of Plato's ethical thought.
Sōphrosunē is one of the four moral virtues—along with wisdom, courage, and justice—that Plato discusses most frequently, though it is perhaps the most difficult one for modern readers to understand. While this Greek term is often translated as "moderation," it is widely acknowledged that English does not have a suitable match for it. This book interprets Plato's masterful reflections on sōphrosunē in two of his dialogues, Gorgias and Phaedrus. Author Kristian Sheeley demonstrates that Plato depicts Socrates customizing his accounts of sōphrosunē for the sake of motivating his interlocutors to cultivate it in their own souls. By depicting Socrates attempting to turn his interlocutors toward the pursuit of virtue, Plato aims to make a similar impact on his readers. In addition, the book periodically reflects on the contemporary relevance of Plato's ethical discussions as they pertain to fundamental philosophical problems that continue to confront us today. Plato's writings on sōphrosunē and related issues contain powerful insights that offer us invaluable guidance.
"Sheeley's book on the virtue of sōphrosunē (roughly, 'moderation') shows that Plato offers a viable ethical framework, anticipating many of the more widely recognized aspects of Aristotelian ethics. Sheeley is also concerned with moral psychology, highlighting how Plato's profound sensitivity to individuated context brings out different aspects of the same moral phenomenon. Because it generally does not presuppose knowledge of Plato or ancient Greek and is written accessibly, the book will also be of interest to undergraduate students and a non-specialist general audience." — Colin C. Smith, editor of Inquiring into Being: Essays on Parmenides