Plato’s last word
PLATO’S PARTING MESSAGE TO HUMANITY a lecture by Dr. David Horan
When
Date: 14th of December 2024
Sat 2:00pm AEDT
Presenter:
Dr. David Horan
Cost: $25.00
Where
Melbourne School of Practical Philosophy
Erasmus School Hall
40 Lisson Grove
Hawthorn VIC 3122
Plato’s Parting Message to Humanity
It is out of reverence for the great and noble virtue, justice, that Socrates leaps to her defense, and in the process, delivers The Republic and The Laws, two masterful philosophical treatises that have as much relevance today as at the time of writing.
What guides ‘law making’ in our modern day world? What guides our own personal choices? Is it pleasure and pain? Perhaps opinion? Perhaps wealth or honour?
Plato will always point us back to first principles, true and universal qualities which, if honoured, will be sure to keep us safe and lead to happiness for all.
Dr David Horan has recently completed a new translation of the Complete Dialogues of Plato. He is the Leader of the School of Philosophy and Economic Science in Ireland and has organized a “Day With Plato” event for over 30 years, introducing thousands to the works of Plato.
David has produced film versions of three of Plato’s dialogues and live dramatisations of numerous others. He has lectured and has run Plato Study Weeks in Ireland, England, Italy, Greece, New Zealand, the Netherlands, South Africa, USA and Australia. Dr Horan is a member of the Plato Centre at Trinity College Dublin and has published articles on Plato’s Parmenides and related topics.
Plato’s last word
PLATO’S PARTING MESSAGE TO HUMANITY a lecture by Dr. David Horan
Shakespeare, Ficino and Plato: A Meeting of Great Minds
Not much is known about the life of William Shakespeare nor the people and literature that influenced him.
There are hints, however, in his plays and sonnets to suggest that he was deeply influenced by the Marisilio Ficino and the Platonic revival in the Renaissance.
The interactive workshop will explore the historical and literary threads linking Shakespeare with the Platonic tradition with illustrative examples from Shakespeare’s works. The session begins with the performance of a light hearted short play which imagines what might have happened if Plato, Ficino and Shakespeare met in real time and how his writing might have benefited.
Dr. Craig Hassed is renowned as a pioneer in the use of mindfulness meditation within the medical world and beyond. He helps people to use mindfulness for their personal use as a means of reducing stress, promoting mental and physical wellbeing and improving performance.
Dr. Hassed has published many articles in peer reviewed journals and books on the benefits of mindfulness and speaks at national and interational forums promoting mindfulness practice in a wide range of fields.
Stewart was a professional actor and director both in England and Australia for close to 30 years. His sole aim as an actor was to perform in Shakespeare’s plays and for the most part this is what he did. In England with the English Shakespeare Company, at Wyndham’s Theatre in the West End and with Compass Theatre Company. In Melbourne his first theatre job was in the botanical gardens in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ then ‘Hamlet’ for Theatre Up North and ‘Macbeth’ with the Old Van Theatre company.
Stewart has been a member of the Melbourne School of Philosophy for over 25 years having previously studied at the School of Philosophy in London. He tutors classes as well as running the odd Shakespeare workshop.