Dear all,
With all best wishes for the new year, we are happy to announce the first
Ancient World Seminar of 2017. On *January 16*, we are welcoming *Darren
Gardner* who will elaborate on his Plato research in a lecture entitled:
*From the Agora to the Gymnasium: Philosophical Training at Plato’s
Palestra*
The development of Philosophical discourse and educational practices in
Athens transitioned from public displays, such as those found in the Agora,
to more secluded gatherings such as private dwellings and gymnasiums. This
change is epitomized by Plato and his followers who, differing from
Socrates and his companions, met in the confines of the Academy rather than
in open public spaces. The Academy, like other palestras, was a place where
athletes trained and exercised under the watchful eye of the gymnasiarch;
likewise young thinkers engaged in philosophical discourse under the
guidance of Plato. In this talk I discuss how and why the use of an
exercise space is important for the cultivation of philosophical thinking.
It both safeguards potentially dangerous discussions from public
misunderstanding and shapes the kinds of practices that help the
philosophical learner strengthen his or her thoughts. Moreover, I will also
consider how Plato’s notion of gymnastic exercise in dialogues such as the
*Republic* and the *Parmenides, *an essential part of Plato’s educational
program, can be contextualized by reflecting on the setting at Plato’s
palestra.
*Having defended his PhD in Philosophy at the New School for Social
Research in New York City in January 2016, Darren Gardner is currently a
visiting researcher at the University of Groningen. He specializes in
ancient philosophy, especially Plato’s metaphysics, and wrote his
dissertation on ‘Exercise and Insight: Gymnastics in Plato’s *Parmenides*’.
Next to being dedicated to research and teaching in the field of ancient
philosophy he is also a professional w**oodworker with his own studio in
Brooklyn.*
The session takes place, as usual, in *room 130* of the Faculty of Theology
and Religious Studies, Groningen, *16.15 – 17.30*.
Join us for drinks afterwards!
--
Sjoukje Kamphorst
PhD candidate in Ancient History
on behalf of the CRASIS team
University of Groningen
CRASIS is the Groningen institute for Interdisciplinary Studies in Culture,
Religion and Society of the Ancient World. Follow CRASIS on Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/rug.crasis> or find out more about us on
www.rug.nl/crasis.
