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Chapter 6 - The Value of Theoria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2021

Julie K. Ward
Affiliation:
Loyola University, Chicago
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Summary

The sixth chapter concerns the valuation accorded to theoria, both as festival-attendance and as philosophical contemplation. As the former, the activity primarily has practical benefits or instrumental value, whereas as the latter, it has primarily intrinsic value, or value in itself. For the value attached to festival-attendance concerns fulfilling a social, political role for the city, and that of sanctuary visitation is similarly instrumental, although more individual given its aim concerned with healing physical maladies. Plato and Aristotle signal a departure from the position that accords theoria primarily instrumental value. The two philosophers concur that theoria as philosophical contemplation, by nature, is an activity desired for itself and is good in itself. However, in a secondary way, Plato and Aristotle also hold that theoria-thinking produces good effects, and in this regard, their view partly coincides with the valuation connected to the traditional practice.

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Searching for the Divine in Plato and Aristotle
Philosophical Theoria and Traditional Practice
, pp. 154 - 183
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • The Value of Theoria
  • Julie K. Ward, Loyola University, Chicago
  • Book: Searching for the Divine in Plato and Aristotle
  • Online publication: 09 December 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009023580.007
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  • The Value of Theoria
  • Julie K. Ward, Loyola University, Chicago
  • Book: Searching for the Divine in Plato and Aristotle
  • Online publication: 09 December 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009023580.007
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • The Value of Theoria
  • Julie K. Ward, Loyola University, Chicago
  • Book: Searching for the Divine in Plato and Aristotle
  • Online publication: 09 December 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009023580.007
Available formats
×