Plato and the Metaphysical Feminine: One Hundred and One Nights

Plato and the Metaphysical Feminine reinterprets the role of the female and the feminine in Plato's political dialogues by applying Deleuze's film theory and Irigaray's psychoanalytic feminism to close the gap between the vitalists and Plato. It prioritizes Heraclitean principles of movement and flux over Form, the feminine over masculine, and materiality, feeling, or sensation over abstraction and universal essence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Plato and the Metaphysical Feminine presents a fresh perspective on the role of women and femininity within Plato's political dialogues, including the Republic, Laws, and Timaeus. Drawing upon the insights of Deleuze's film theory and Irigaray's psychoanalytic feminism, Irene Han challenges traditional interpretations and seeks to bridge the gap between vitalist and Platonic perspectives. Han delves into the ambivalence exhibited by the vitalist tradition, Irigaray, and Derrida towards Plato's philosophy, exploring how these thinkers engage with and interpret the ancient texts. By applying Deleuzian and Irigarayan concepts to the ancient texts, Han offers a novel interpretation of Plato, emphasizing the centrality and significance of motion, change, sensuality, and becoming in Platonic philosophy. This reinterpretation reimagines Platonic philosophy in the direction of Heraclitus rather than Parmenides, portraying it as feminist rather than masculinist and as mimetic. It prioritizes Heraclitean principles of movement and flux over Form, the feminine over masculine, and materiality, feeling, or sensation over abstraction and universal essence.

Han's exploration is illustrative of how Plato's thought maps the feminine onto the plane of phenomena, which is associated with vitalist themes such as motion, tactility, and change (metabolē). Through this recontextualization, Being is revealed to express itself through processes of (feminine) becoming, destabilizing any purported Platonic dualism.

In conclusion, Plato and the Metaphysical Feminine offers a groundbreaking exploration of the role of women and femininity in Plato's political dialogues. By blending Deleuze's film theory and Irigaray's psychoanalytic feminism, Han provides a fresh perspective that challenges traditional interpretations and reimagines Plato's philosophy in the light of Heraclitus and feminist principles. Through her meticulous analysis, Han demonstrates how Plato's thought maps the feminine onto the plane of phenomena, emphasizing the significance of motion, change, sensuality, and becoming. This reinterpretation destabilizes any purported Platonic dualism and presents a feminist and mimetic perspective on Plato's philosophy, highlighting the importance of Heraclitean principles of movement and flux over Form, the feminine over masculine, and materiality, feeling, or sensation over abstraction and universal essence.

Weight: 384g
Dimension: 225 x 145 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192849588