The Platonic fronesis in the dialogues Phaidon and Philebus

Abstract

The Platonic fronesis in the dialogues Phaidon and Philebus. (Article) – This study deals with the platonic concept of fronesis (φρόνησις) that shortly refers to “practical wisdom”. This concept is most significant in two dialogues of Plato. At first is fronesis connected with the virtue of asceticism and with socratic soulcaring in Phaidon. But it is mostly in the terrestrial life of philosopher and thus de facto unavailable to him. While in the Philebus the concept of fronesis is related to the (so-called) truthful passion that has its own place in philosophical life. How can we explain that Plato gives us these two different perspectives, which can be seen both as ascetic and hedonic at the same time?