Philosophy, Politics, and the Possible: Plato's Seventh Letter in Dialogue with the Republic

In this lecture, BCB alum Schuyler Curriden '21 will introduce his recent work on Plato's much debated Seventh Letter. In the Seventh Letter, Plato tells the story of his failed attempt to convert the Syracusan tyrant Dionysius II to philosophy and thereby to improve his regime. In elucidating the reasons for his failure, he outlines the real limitations on the power of theory and education to intervene in the political realm. With these limitations in mind, we can reevaluate the feasibility of the Republic’s political program and ask anew, what is the Republic for?

Schuyler Curriden completed his Bachelor's at Deep Springs College and Bard College Berlin. He currently studies Ancient Greek philosophy at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. His interests include the relationship between fiction and philosophy and the place of the political in philosophy. He is the editor of Plato’s Seventh Letter, by James Redfield (Hackett, 2026).

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For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Time: 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm CET/GMT+1

Location: Lecture Hall

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