CFP: Theôria as Cognition in Plato

Concerns for theôria and theoretical life had always been a major issue in ancient philosophy after Socrates; and this theme had found some of its most authentic philosophical elaborations in the protreptical genre. Much of the current literature on theoretical life in Plato focuses on bios theôretikos as an ethical and practical issue; but theôria itself has rarely been taken as the focal subject. Andrea Wilson Nightangale's (1) work is a remarkable exception in this regard, which proves how rich this theme can be for scholars of ancient philosophy.

The themes of theôria and theoretical life are elaborated in many of Plato's dialogues, especially in Phaedo, Republic, Symposium, Philebus, Phaedrus and Timeaus. However, it is a remarkable fact about Plato's treatment of theôria in these dialogues that it is, most of the time, approached as part of some mythical or mystical narrative. In the Republic, for instance, it is famously woven into the Allegory of the Cave and the Myth of Er; or in the Symposium and Phaedrus it is modeled on mystic initiations at the Eleusinian Festivals. Why does Plato choose to present it this way? Is the bios theôretikos the life that Socrates leads or the life that he only speaks about? Is it the life of someone who actively engages his fellow citizens in the market or the life of one who has climbed out of the cave and gazes at the the Good? It is clear to any reader of these dialogues that theôria in Plato has strong epistemological, cognitive and psychological components to it. As T. Benatouil and M. Bonazzi put it, we have in Plato "a psychological and epistemological elucidation of contemplation, assigning it to a separable and immortal faculty, noûs, and distinguishing it from other lower cognitive activities such as sensation, opinion, experience, practical reason, etc." (2). This conference is motivated by the idea of exploring this cognitive core in Plato's mostly metaphorical presentation of theôria in the dialogues. More precisely, the purpose of this conference on "Theôria in Plato" is to investigate the nature of theôria itself in Plato from a cognitive, epistemological and psychological point of view. The conference aims at reflecting on the theoretical nature of theôria in Plato.

One pressing question is, however, whether there is a bios theôretikos that is distinct from an ethically and practically engaged life. Plato seems to intentionally reject the distinction between theoretical and practical lives by showing Socrates as both practical and theoretical. This apparent unification comes under scrutiny in later dialogues when Socrates is not the interlocutor. The conference theme can be, therefore, understood from a broader perspective as including the theoretical examination of delimiting a distinct theoretical life in Plato.

We have slots for ten other speakers. (All talks will be given in person.) The conference is open to both senior and junior researchers. We are eager for submissions from women scholars from Middle Eastern countries. On-campus accommodation facilities will be offered to participants.

Submissions (for a 30-min. presentation) should include a title page with the title of the presentation, author's name, a mini-bio, institutional affiliation, and email address. A 600- to 750-word abstract should be prepared for blind review and sent as a second file (docx or pdf only). Please email all submissions or questions to [email protected]

SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY January 20, 2023.