Reading Plato's Dialogues to Enhance Learning and Inquiry: Exploring Socrates' Use of Protreptic for Student Engagement

This book offers a new approach to reading Plato's dialogues, focusing on Socrates' use of protreptic to encourage self-examination and conscionable reflection. By highlighting the practical applications of Plato's writings, it aims to enhance student engagement and develop thinking skills for democratic and civic engagement. It is of interest to scholars in ancient philosophy, education, and moral and values education.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 August 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking scholarly work presents protreptic as a revolutionary approach to reading Plato's dialogues, aimed at enhancing student engagement and fostering deep learning. By delving into a comprehensive analysis of key dialogues such as Crito, Euthyphro, Meno, and Republic, the text sheds light on Socrates' unique methods of promoting self-examination and conscientious reflection. Through a focused examination of Socrates' use of protreptic, Marshall offers a practical guide for reading Plato, demonstrating how his writings can be employed to cultivate intrinsic motivation among students and nurture the critical thinking skills necessary for democratic and civic engagement. This engaging volume appeals to a wide range of scholars, including doctoral students, researchers, and enthusiasts of Plato's dialogues, the philosophy of education, and ancient philosophy in general. Additionally, it will be of great interest to post-graduate students engaged in moral and values education research.

Introduction:
In the realm of classical philosophy, Plato's dialogues have long held a central place in scholarly discourse. These works, penned by the Greek philosopher, offer profound insights into a wide range of philosophical topics, from ethics and metaphysics to political philosophy and epistemology. However, despite their enduring significance, there has been a growing recognition of the need for new approaches to reading and interpreting Plato's dialogues. This scholarly volume aims to address this challenge by proposing protreptic as a radically new way of engaging with Plato's texts.

The Concept of Protreptic:
Protreptic, derived from the Greek word "protreptic," refers to the art of persuasion or exhortation. In the context of Plato's dialogues, it signifies the practice of engaging with others in a way that encourages them to reflect on their beliefs, values, and actions. By employing protreptic, Socrates sought to foster self-examination and conscionable reflection among his interlocutors, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the human condition.

The Significance of Protreptic in Plato's Dialogues:
Through a meticulous analysis of Plato's dialogues, this volume highlights Socrates' distinctive methods of protreptic. Socrates employed a range of techniques, including questioning, irony, and analogy, to challenge his interlocutors' assumptions and provoke them to think critically about their beliefs and values. He encouraged his students to engage in a process of introspection, examining their own lives and experiences in light of the philosophical questions posed by Socrates.

Enhanced Student Engagement and Learning:
The primary goal of protreptic is to enhance student engagement and promote deep learning. By engaging students in a dialogue that encourages self-examination and conscionable reflection, educators can create a more meaningful and transformative learning experience. Protreptic can help students develop critical thinking skills, cultivate empathy, and become more aware of their own biases and assumptions.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this groundbreaking scholarly work presents protreptic as a revolutionary approach to reading Plato's dialogues. By focusing on Socrates' use of protreptic, the volume offers a practical guide for educators and students alike. By engaging in protreptic, we can deepen our understanding of Plato's texts, cultivate critical thinking skills, and promote a more engaged and thoughtful approach to learning. This volume will be of interest to doctoral students, researchers, and scholars concerned with Plato's dialogues, the philosophy of education, and ancient philosophy more broadly, as well as post-graduate students interested in moral and values education research.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367636364