Citizenship, virtue and the "theory-praxis" problem: a platonic approach

Abstract

It would appear that the familiar "theory-praxis" problem may be set out in a dramatic way as follows: Should a theory be radically reevaluated or even renounced when it does not lead to its implementation in practice, and not only this, but the practice to which it does lead is exactly the opposite of the theory concerned? This statement is a forcible exposition of the "theory-praxis" problem as it presents theory, the evaluation of theory, from the perspective-criterion of praxis and ultimately postulates praxis as the highest value/final goal. We propose to examine this problem and the question concerning the value of theory from the standpoint of praxis, within the framework of a philosophy that is acknowledged to be socially and politically important, that of Plato, and particularly in the context of the last phase of his philosophy. Our starting point will be the same as that of the philosopher's social and political thought in Laws: the moral problem, the discourse on virtue.