The Platonic Academy of Melbourne

Spring term starting soon

Places are still available in all Spring evening classes starting the week of Monday, 23 August, 2021. If you are new to Plato and philosophy, then we recommend for starters Reading Plato [BOOKINGS CLOSED]. If you ever wondered about the origins Read more…

By Bernie Lewin, 4 years13 August 2021 ago

Evening class

Spring 2021 enrolments now open

Enrolments are now open for Spring evening classes starting the week of Monday, 23 August 2021. Those new to philosophy, or new to Plato, would best take our foundation course, Reading Plato (Wednesdays, classroom & online). For those who missed Read more…

By Bernie Lewin, 4 years22 July 2021 ago

Evening class

The Phaedrus from Pico to Derrida

Giovanni Pico della Mirandola — At the age of 23, Pico della Mirandola thought he might bring together intellectuals across Christendom in a convocation of divine ascent and for this purpose he penned an oration that has since come to define Renaissance humanism. The oration was never delivered as his project failed spectacularly and by the age of 31 he was dead, kill by poisoning. ( image source).

In Platonic Love last night we discussed the influence of Plato’s Phaedrus on two very different philosophical schools.

First came the influence on Renaissance humanism through Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola and their revival of the philosophical aspiration towards ecstatic union with the divine:

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By Bernie Lewin, 4 years8 July 2021 ago