Anna Schriefl of the University of Bonn "Plato's Criticism of Money Making." September 9, 2010

Anna Schriefl of the University of Bonn will present a paper entitled "Plato's Criticism of Money Making."

Abstract: The Platonic dialogues are full of negative statements about moneymaking: Plato criticizes the sophists for taking fees; in the Republic he introduces property arrangements which include the rule that philosophers must not take money for their services to the city; and in the Laws, all citizens are forbidden to practice any kind of moneymaking. In my paper, I will approach Plato¹s radical position in three steps. First, I will suggest that in rejecting moneymaking, Plato does not merely follow the aristocratic commonsense of his time but is careful to position himself as a revisionist. Second, I will look at some of the reasons Plato gives for separating philosophy and moneymaking both in his discussion of the Sophists fees and in the property arrangements of the Republic. Third and finally, I will draw attention to some of the problems his criticism of moneymaking yields for the moral intellectualism that is often attributed to his philosophy.
Location:

Albert and Vera List Academic Center, Rm. 1103

Admission:
Free; no tickets or reservations required; seating is first-come first-served

Official Website: http://www.newschool.edu/NSSR/eventsList.aspx?id=55955&DeptFilter=NSSR+Philosophy