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Socrates' Ancestor: An Essay on Architectural Beginnings,Used
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Socrates' Ancestor is a rich and poetic exploration of architectural beginnings and the dawn of Western philosophy in preclassical Greece. Architecture precedes philosophy, McEwen argues, and it was here, in the archaic Greek polis, that Western architecture became the cradle of Western thought. McEwen's appreciation of the early Greek understanding of the indissolubility of craft and community yields new insight into such issues as orthogonal planning and the appearance of the encompassing colonnade the ptera or 'wings' that made Greek temples Greek. Who was Socrates' ancestor? Socrates claims it was Daedalus, the mythical first architect. Socrates' ancestors were also the first Western philosophers: the preSocratic thinkers of archaic Greece where the Greek citystate with its monumental temples first came to light. McEwen brilliantly draws out the connections between Daedalus and the earliest Greek thinkers, between architecture and the advent of speculative thought. She argues that Greek thought and Greek architecture share a common ground in the amazing fabrications of the legendary Daedalus: statues so animated with divine life that they had to be bound in chains, the Labyrinth where Theseus slew the Minotaur, Ariadne's dancing floor in Knossos. Socrates' Ancestor is an exploration as remarkable for its clarity as for its avoidance of reductionism. Drawing as much on the power of myth and metaphor as on philosophical, philological, and historical considerations, McEwen first reaches backward: from Socrates to the earliest written record of Western philosophy in the Anaximander B1 fragment, and its physical expression in Anaximander's built work a 'cosmic model' that consisted of a celestial sphere, a map of the world, and the first Greek sun clock. From daedalean artifacts she draws out the centrality of early Greek craftsmanship and its role in the making of the Greek citystate. The investigation then moves James forward to a discussion of the polis and the first great peripteral temples that anchored for the meaning of 'city.'
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Socrates' Ancestor'? A: 'Socrates' Ancestor' explores the relationship between architecture and the beginnings of Western philosophy, arguing that early Greek architecture laid the groundwork for philosophical thought.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Socrates' Ancestor'? A: The book is authored by Indra Kagis McEwen, who examines the connections between Daedalus, the mythical first architect, and early Greek philosophers.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: 'Socrates' Ancestor' was published on September 21, 1993.
- Q: How many pages does 'Socrates' Ancestor' have? A: The book contains 208 pages.
- Q: What type of binding does 'Socrates' Ancestor' have? A: The book is available in a paperback binding.
- Q: Is 'Socrates' Ancestor' suitable for academic study? A: Yes, 'Socrates' Ancestor' is suitable for academic study as it provides insights into the intersection of architecture and philosophy in ancient Greece.
- Q: What condition is the book in if it is labeled as 'acceptable'? A: If labeled as 'acceptable', the book may show signs of wear but is still readable and intact.
- Q: Does 'Socrates' Ancestor' include illustrations or images? A: The product details do not specify whether 'Socrates' Ancestor' includes illustrations or images.
- Q: What edition of the book is available? A: The available edition is the 'First Softcover Edition'.
- Q: What topics are covered in 'Socrates' Ancestor'? A: The book covers topics such as early Greek craftsmanship, the relationship between architecture and philosophy, and the significance of Greek temples.