Prev: Last CFP - Applied Computing 2010: 3 September 2010
Next: The block cipher NSABC spec -- updated
From: gdk on 6 Aug 2010 07:07
Posted this morning at Electric Politics, a podcast interview with Dr.
Jay Kennedy, of the University of Manchester, on secret musical codes
in Plato's writings.

Plato, it turns out, was a card-carrying Pythagorean who believed that
science could explain everything. This implied, of course, that the
Gods were not to be propitiated, a view that could well, in ancient
Greece, have led to Plato's execution. So Plato promulgated his
philosophy in hidden form, known to initiates but not others. It's a
mind-boggling achievement.

If you're wondering what this might have to do with contemporary
politics, to give just one example, the neoconservatives have deep
roots in the teachings of Leo Strauss of the University of Chicago.
Strauss, a Platonist, believed, to give a quick and dirty summary,
that he and his acolytes were the real elite, meant to rule the world.
Strauss was actually correct in thinking that Platonic texts contained
secret meanings, but as it turns out Strauss was completely clueless
about what those meanings were. The neocons must now seek other
sources of philosophical legitimacy... They had it coming...

The wider implications of a revolutionary reinterpretation of Plato
are up to your imagination.

If you enjoy the podcast please don't hesitate to redistribute the
link.

http://www.electricpolitics.com/podcast/2010/08/platos_secret.html
 | 
Pages: 1
Prev: Last CFP - Applied Computing 2010: 3 September 2010
Next: The block cipher NSABC spec -- updated