Platonism: Ernest Gellner, Greco-Roman society and the comparative study of the premodern world

TY - JOUR

T1 - Platonism: Ernest Gellner, Greco-Roman society and the comparative study of the premodern world

AU - Bang, Peter Fibiger

PY - 2015/6

Y1 - 2015/6

N2 - This paper explores the reception of Gellner's historical sociology among students of pre-modern societies and the Greco-Roman world in particular and asks how his thought is still relevant to the field. This involves discussion of recent trends in world history as well as new comparative work on ancient state and elite formation. A main contention of the paper is that Gellner's sociological reading of Plato and his politics may be one of the most interesting modern interpretations of the ancient Greek thinker on offer and one which can serve as a fruitful framework for the comparative study of complex, pre-industrial societies.

AB - This paper explores the reception of Gellner's historical sociology among students of pre-modern societies and the Greco-Roman world in particular and asks how his thought is still relevant to the field. This involves discussion of recent trends in world history as well as new comparative work on ancient state and elite formation. A main contention of the paper is that Gellner's sociological reading of Plato and his politics may be one of the most interesting modern interpretations of the ancient Greek thinker on offer and one which can serve as a fruitful framework for the comparative study of complex, pre-industrial societies.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0725-5136

VL - 128

SP - 56

EP - 71

JO - Thesis Eleven

JF - Thesis Eleven

IS - 1

ER -