Andrew Fiala is a respected professor of ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion, and nonviolence and pacifism. He is director the Center for Ethics at California State University, Fresno, and is a frequent contributor to the Fresno Bee newspaper.

It is always heartening when a classicist applies the lessons of ancient political thought to the contemporary world; there is much to be learned. Fiala points to the ancient critique of tyranny, especially as found in Plato’s Republic, and shows how frighteningly relevant it is to the Trump phenomenon…. This book draws timely lessons from the ancients and leaves open questions we must grapple with. Highly recommended. Undergraduates and general readers.

• PrefaceChapter 1: From Trump to Plato and Back AgainChapter 2: Tyranny as a Theological ProblemChapter 3: The Tragic Trio and the Midwife Who EnlightensChapter 4: Political Tragedy and Historical WisdomChapter 5: The Tyrant’s Pride: On Ambition, Power, and GreatnessChapter 6: The Fool’s Stupidity: On Willful and Vicious Ignorance Chapter 7: The Sycophant’s Complicity: On Cunning, Flattery, and the Trojan HorseChapter 8: Wisdom, Vigilance, and The Citizen-PhilosopherChapter 9: The Constitution of WisdomChapter 10: The Mirror of PhilosophyAppendix 1: Trump’s View of Morality in ContextAppendix 2: Cast of Characters and Key Events

Andrew Fiala is a respected professor of ethics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of religion, and nonviolence and pacifism. He is director the Center for Ethics at California State University, Fresno, and is a frequent contributor to the Fresno Bee newspaper.

It is always heartening when a classicist applies the lessons of ancient political thought to the contemporary world; there is much to be learned. Fiala points to the ancient critique of tyranny, especially as found in Plato’s Republic, and shows how frighteningly relevant it is to the Trump phenomenon…. This book draws timely lessons from the ancients and leaves open questions we must grapple with. Highly recommended. Undergraduates and general readers.

• PrefaceChapter 1: From Trump to Plato and Back AgainChapter 2: Tyranny as a Theological ProblemChapter 3: The Tragic Trio and the Midwife Who EnlightensChapter 4: Political Tragedy and Historical WisdomChapter 5: The Tyrant’s Pride: On Ambition, Power, and GreatnessChapter 6: The Fool’s Stupidity: On Willful and Vicious Ignorance Chapter 7: The Sycophant’s Complicity: On Cunning, Flattery, and the Trojan HorseChapter 8: Wisdom, Vigilance, and The Citizen-PhilosopherChapter 9: The Constitution of WisdomChapter 10: The Mirror of PhilosophyAppendix 1: Trump’s View of Morality in ContextAppendix 2: Cast of Characters and Key Events