Myth and Reason: Prometheus appears in Plato’s Philebus

When:
July 15, 2019 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
2019-07-15T19:30:00+01:00
2019-07-15T21:00:00+01:00
Where:
Cecil Sharp House
2 Regents Park Road
London
NW1 7AY
Cost:
Free
Contact:
Tim Addey
01594 726296

Myth and Reason: Prometheus appears in Plato’s Philebus

In the Philebus Socrates and the other characters discuss the problems presented to us as thinkers which arise because everything is both one and many. In responding to this, and in order to promote the systematic reasoning of dialectic, Socrates refers to the myth of Prometheus and the stealing of the fire of heaven: this is, perhaps, not what the reader would expect. Why a mythic approach? And why this particular myth? We’ll read the section of the dialogue where this occurs, summarize the myth itself and explore the interplay between reason and myth with the help of some of Damascius’ interpretations taken from his writings on the dialogue. As usual we should have about an hour to discuss the ideas after the reading and short introductory talk.

No previous experience of formal philosophy is required.

Entrance in free, but donations between £2-5 will be welcomed.

A PDF download of the extract we will be reading is available on our website together with further details of this and other Prometheus Trust’s activities: www.prometheustrust.co.uk (the PDF is on the “London Monday Evenings” page.)