In recent years, Plato's Timaeus has recaptured the interest of
scholars, sparking an exploration of the astonishing influence this work
has had on a wide range of intellectual traditions. Plato's Timaeus as
Cultural Icon brings together a group of leading experts from Canada,
the United States, and Europe to examine the reception of Plato's
Timaeus throughout history, as well as its impact on major
intellectual and cultural traditions. Gretchen J. Reydams-Schils's
enlightening introduction tackles the issue of why the Timaeus has
enjoyed such tremendous cultural status and sets the stage for the many
topics covered in this volume, which include an assessment of the
Timaeus's influence on Plato's successors, an examination of how it
became connected to traditions of sacred texts, an analysis of the
"mind-body problem," the tradition of music and its relation to
philosophy, the cultural impact of Calcidius's Latin translation of the
work, and the interaction between the Timaeus and Islamic philosophy.
As a collaborative effort of expert philosophers, classicists, and
historians, this remarkable book serves as a wonderful starting point
and research tool for anyone with an interest in Plato's Timaeus.
