Platonism as a Living Tradition

Platonism as a Living Tradition considers Plato’s dialogues in the same way that ancient Platonists themselves did: as intellectual incantations that initiate readers into the philosophical pursuit of what Plato described as homoiōsis theō, likeness to God. In a time of crisis and profound lack of meaning, when both secular frameworks and mainstream religions leave many unmoved, this essay collection invites readers to rediscover Platonism’s intellectual rigor and spiritual power. Contributors explore profound and life-changing insights Platonism has offered them, how they have experienced initiation into this wisdom tradition, and how they negotiate identities as both initiates and academic scholars. These essays emerged from a conference hosted at Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions that invited scholars to reflect on their existential investment in Platonism, and on how they understood themselves and their scholarship as part of a living tradition of Platonism.