German Political Thought and the Discourse of Platonism Finding the
Taking Plato’s allegory of the cave as its starting-point, this book demonstrates how later European thinkers can be read as a reaction and a response to key aspects of this allegory and its discourse of enchainment and liberation. Focusing on key thinker
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Finding the Way out of the Cave
Paul Bishop
German Political Thought and the Discourse of Platonism “This book is a genuine tour de force. Paul Bishop reads the tradition of German political thought through the prism of the allegory of the cave in Plato’s Republic. His aim is not merely to re-contextualise and re-interpret, but to reveal the continued relevance of the history of ideas to our own time. In a series of penetrating interpretations ranging from Plato and Aristotle via Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche to Heidegger, Adorno, and Habermas, he addresses the central challenges of modernity—such as the relation between the individual and society, the promises and pitfalls of economic development, and the role of the state. This is an original and engaging way into the intricacies of German thought. Supremely erudite yet invariably accessible, the book works on two levels: undergraduate students will be able to use it as a general introduction, while scholars will benefit from its interpretative subtleties and historical insights. German Political Thought and the Discourse of Platonism is one of the most fascinating philosophical studies I have read in a long time.” —Henk de Berg is Professor of German at the University of Sheffield, UK, and co-editor of Modern German Thought from Kant to Habermas (2012) “Paul Bishop offers a stunning revision of political thinking via Plato and his continued presence in German philosophy. Plato’s Cave is the famous allegory that depicts humans as doomed to remain prisoners deluded by shadows on the cave wall when their only hope of freedom is to focus on the mystical fire itself. In a powerful analysis of foundational dialogues with Plato from Aristotle and Rousseau to moderns such as Nietzsche, Marx, the Frankfurt School and Habermas, Bishop offers a compelling argument about the nature of politics in the twenty-first century. Do we build societies based upon the revolutionary potential of individual consciousness or must we provide an Ideal model after the example of Plato? Digging for the Platonic heart of the German p hilosophical heritage, German Political Thought and the Discourse of Platonism plots new routes into who we are and how we got here. This book is a must for political scientists, German scholars, philosophers and all who seek positive visions for a viable global future.” —Susan Rowland is Chair of the Engaged Humanities and the Creative Life M.A. at Pacifica Graduate Institute, USA. Her recent book is Remembering Dionysus (2017)
“Paul Bishop’s new book takes us on an absorbing journey through the history of German political thought. Bishop’s central premise is that the discourse of Platonism provides a gateway to understanding the connections between thinkers ranging from Kant to Habermas. With clarity and concision, Bishop brings the reader to a deeper comprehension of the German engagement with Platonism. This book will appeal to anyone interested in the continuity of German thought and its observations on fundamental questions regarding hu
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