•  477
    Abstract: In the Philebus, Socrates constructs a dialectical argument in which he purports to explain to Protarchus why the pleasure that spectators feel when watching comedy is a mixture of pleasure and pain. To do this he brings in phthonos (malice or envy) as his prime example (47d-50e). I examine the argument and claim that Socrates implicitly challenges Protarchus’ beliefs about himself as moderate and self-knowing. I discuss two reasons to think that more is at stake in the argument than t…Read more
  •  80
    Plato on Mimesis and Mirrors
    Philosophy and Literature 36 (1): 187-195. 2012.
    The mirror analogy in Republic X (596c-e) helps Socrates formulate the conception of mimesis used to make the argument that the painter is an imitator and his works are inferior, being thrice-removed from reality (596a-598d). The painter is classified as an impostor by an unfair assimilation with the sophistic mirror-holder. The mirror analogy and its imaging-devices give Socrates a dialectical advantage that he would not otherwise have. If Socrates succeeds with Glaucon in showing that painters…Read more
  •  77
    Shame and Ambiguity in Plato’s Gorgias
    Philosophy and Rhetoric 41 (3). 2008.
    The paper concerns the refutation of Polus (474c-475e). My approach to the refutation is to give a logical analysis of the argument and the fallacy in it. I argue that the verbal nature of the refutation is a valuable key to understanding the special emphasis that Plato places on the sophistic misuse of language.
  •  27
    Does Socrates Have a Method?: Rethinking the Elenchus in Plato's Dialogues and Beyond (review) (review)
    Journal of the History of Philosophy 41 (2): 266-267. 2003.
    In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:Journal of the History of Philosophy 41.2 (2003) 266-267 [Access article in PDF] Gary Alan Scott, editor. Does Socrates Have a Method? Rethinking the Elenchus in Plato's Dialogues and Beyond. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002. Pp. xiii + 327. Cloth, $45.00. This is an anthology of sixteen essays concerning the topic of Socratic method and closely related issues that influence the interpretation of Plato's…Read more
  •  26
    A Reply to Rawson on the Meno
    Southwest Philosophy Review 17 (2): 117-121. 2001.
  •  17
    Rockmore, Tom. Art and Truth after Plato. University of Chicago Press, 2013, 344 pp., $55.00 cloth (review)
    Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 72 (4): 456-459. 2014.
    This article is a book review. I provide a detailed, chapter by chapter summary of Rockmore's book and a critical assessment of it.
  •  16
    Greek and Roman Aesthetics by bychkov, oleg v. and anne sheppard
    Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 70 (2): 242-245. 2012.
    This article is a book review. I provide a detailed summary and critical assessment of the anthology by Bychkov and Sheppard.
  •  8
    Does Socrates Have a Method?: Rethinking the Elenchus in Plato's Dialogues and Beyond (review)
    Journal of the History of Philosophy 41 (2): 266-267. 2003.
    In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:Journal of the History of Philosophy 41.2 (2003) 266-267 [Access article in PDF] Gary Alan Scott, editor. Does Socrates Have a Method? Rethinking the Elenchus in Plato's Dialogues and Beyond. University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002. Pp. xiii + 327. Cloth, $45.00. This is an anthology of sixteen essays concerning the topic of Socratic method and closely related issues that influence the interpretation of Plato's…Read more