In this episode, we explore a disruption called "Plato from the Margins," which reimagines Plato’s dialogues through the eyes of characters often sidelined. We uncover the devastating historical irony Plato likely intended: the Republic discusses justice in a home soon to be looted by tyrants, and the Meno explores virtue with a slave boy belonging to a man historically known for his corruption. By centering such marginalized characters, Plato’s abstract philosophical themes might be shifted toward more urgent, lived stakes. Ultimately, the episode reveals that listening to these voices does not replace Plato, but deeply recontextualizes his work by making visible the social realities his arguments may have left implicit.
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Sources
• Altman, William H. F. “Xenophon and Plato’s Meno.” Ancient Philosophy, vol. 42, no. 1, year, pp. xx–xx.
• Betenson, Toby. “The Meno: How to See What Isn’t Said.” TobyBetenson.com, 4 Oct. 2023, tobybetenson.com/2023/10/04/the-m…-what-isnt-said/.
• D’Angour, Armand. “Socrates in Love: How the Ideas of This Woman Are at the Root of Western Philosophy.” The Conversation, 17 June 2019, theconversation.com/socrates-in-lov…ilosophy-109593.
• Graham, Daniel W. Ancient Philosophy: The Fundamentals. John Wiley & Sons, 2020.
• Johnson, David V. "There’s a Green Card-holder at the heart of Greek philosophy." Excerpt from "Plato and the Ethics of the Resident Alien." Aeon, aeon.co. Accessed based on provided context.
• Kirby, Christopher C. “Plato’s Historical Irony and the Philosophy of the Margins.” Medium, 2025.
• Kirby, Christopher C. “Virtue and Dialectic: Socrates Versus the Sophists.” Medium, 2025.
• Nails, Debra. The People of Plato: A Prosopography of Plato and Other Socratics. Hackett Publishing Company, 2002.
Episode Credits
**The views expressed in this program are not necessarily those of Eastern Washington University
