Explores the process or neoclassical interpretation of Plato's thought on God.
A Platonic Philosophy of Religion challenges traditional views of Plato's religious thought, arguing that these overstate the case for the veneration of Being as opposed to Becoming. Daniel A. Dombrowski explores how process or neoclassical perspectives on Plato's view of God have been mostly neglected, impoverishing both our view of Plato and our view of what can be said in contemporary philosophy of religion on a Platonic basis. Looking at the largely ignored later dialogues, Dombrowski finds a dynamic theism in Plato and presents a new and very different Platonic philosophy of religion. The work's interpretive framework derives from the application of process philosophy and discusses the continuation of Plato's thought in the works of Hartshorne and Whitehead.
“The most interesting questions raised by this book relate to the way in which the writings and views of philosophers can or should be interpreted … it will be read with great interest by those philosophers who explore and teach courses in the philosophy of religion, especially Platonic scholars.” — Philosophy in Review
"Dombrowski makes an important contribution to process theology and philosophy." — John B. Cobb Jr., author of Postmodernism and Public Policy: Reframing Religion, Culture, Education, Sexuality, Class, Race, Politics, and the Economy
"By skillfully and clearly demonstrating the textual and argumentative importance of aspects of Plato's work which have often been systematically ignored or underappreciated, Dombrowski convincingly develops the notion of a dipolar Platonic philosophy of religion." — Brian G. Henning, Mount Saint Mary's University
Daniel A. Dombrowski is Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University. He is the author of several books, including Rawls and Religion: The Case for Political Liberalism, also published by SUNY Press.
