Plato and the Question of Beauty

<p>Drew A. Hyland one of Continental philosophy's keenest interpreters of Plato takes up the question of beauty in three Platonic dialogues the <i>Hippias Major Symposium </i> and <i>Phaedrus.</i> What Plato meant by beauty is not easily characterized and Hyland's close readings show that Plato ultimately gives up on the possibility of a definition. Plato's failure however tells us something important about beauty--that it cannot be reduced to <i>logos.</i> Exploring questions surrounding love memory and ideal form Hyland draws out the connections between beauty the possibility of philosophy and philosophical living. This new reading of Plato provides a serious investigation into the meaning of beauty and places it at the very heart of philosophy.</p>