Workshop in Ancient Philosophy (Thursday - Week 6, MT24)

Abstract: "In this talk, I provide an interpretation of Plato’s repeated claims in Republic V that women are “weaker” than men. Specifically, I argue that Plato thinks women have a psychological propensity to get easily dispirited, which makes them less effective than men in implementing and executing their decisions. This interpretation achieves several things. It qualifies Plato’s otherwise progressive position regarding female guardians and their role in the polis. It expands our understanding of the nature and role of spirit (thumos) in Plato’s moral psychology. It provides the background against which we can interpret Aristotle’s claim in Politics I that women possess a deliberative capacity that is not authoritative (akuron). And, finally, it gives us insight into a kind of moral-psychological success and failure that Plato and Aristotle consider central to both personal and political agency".