A "joint effort" between a Lyon College professor and two library staffers who served as her editors has resulted in the publication of a trilogy of books. Dr. Martha Beck, associate professor of philosophy, wrote the manuscripts and Brenda Lindsey ‘00 and Judy Blackwell ’05 edited them into camera-ready galley proofs.

At left are (from left) Brenda Lindsey, Dr. Beck and Judy Blackwell.

The title of the series is: Tragedy and the Philosophical Life: A Response to Martha Nussbaum. Beck disagrees profoundly with the interpretation of four of Plato’s dialogues in Nussbaum’s 1986 book, The Fragility of Goodness: luck and ethics in Greek tragedy and philosophy. Nussbaum’s book has been widely read, making her a well-known public intellectual in the United States today.

Beck found her inspiration to begin the books "in her mind" in 1986, but it wasn’t until she was on sabbatical in January 2004 that she actually began the writing process.

In the first volume, focused on Plato’s Protagoras, Beck defends Plato’s particular kind of moral absolutism against Nussbaum’s defense of Protagoras’ moral relativism. Plato shows his readers how Protagorean relativism led Athens into decline. Nussbaum’s advocacy of the same kind of relativism has led our own society into decline.

In the second volume, Beck argues against Nussbaum’s claim that Plato’s system of philosophical education in the Republic is intended to isolate philosophers from society and human tragedy. Rather, says Beck, the philosophical life demands confronting corruption in oneself and others constantly, even if it leads to criticism and even capital punishment.

In the third volume, Beck argues against Nussbaum’s claim that Socrates believed the philosophical life requires emotional detachment. Beck argues that Plato’s model of the philosophical life, described through the character of Socrates, was driven by a great passion that included close friends and a deep concern for the well-being of others.

Professor Mark Moes of Grand Valley State University said Beck’s books are, "an excellent introduction to the dialogues for readers who need an accessible entrance into Plato’s thought."

Beck said during her early years of studying Plato, she found that she disagreed with many traditional approaches, finding the interpretations to be too analytical and often meaningless.

Blackwell’s slant on the idea illustrates it plainly.

"You shouldn’t try to describe a chair, or talk about a chair or even look at a chair," she said. "Just sit in the chair and experience it for yourself."

Beck also disagrees with the interpretation of Plato’s Republic now made famous by the writings and policies of a group of "neo-conservative" political philosophers who studied Plato at the University of Chicago under Leo Strauss.

According to Beck, the neo-cons have used Plato’s Republic Book IV as their model to justify authoritarian policies within the United States and policies aimed at American domination abroad, all in the name of promoting "democratic values and principles." The Athenians also engaged in empire building in the name of promoting democracy and defeating Sparta, a closed, authoritarian, military state.

The neo-cons, Beck asserts, did not notice that half way through book V of the Republic Socrates completely rejects the model of the "ideal" city in Books II-V and begins "from the beginning," on an entirely different path, the philosophical path, toward understanding how to exercise political power.

Despite its lofty, esoteric subject matter, Lindsey said the books will appeal to everyone, not just scholars.

"Martha wrote it for the masses, and even people with no background in philosophy or Plato will enjoy it and learn from it," she said.

Blackwell said she learned a lot while editing the books.

"I consider it a valuable addition to my understanding of the world, and I strongly recommend the whole three-volume set," she said.

Beck, Lindsey and Blackwell are currently working on three more books that will be published in the future. The first is Beck’s memoir about growing up and the formation of her philosophical point of view. The second is an application of Aristotle to the tragedy, Philoctetes, by Sophocles. Beck likens Philoctetes to the Greeks’ version of Job: the man who experiences prolonged pain and suffering for no reason. The third is a comparison between Carl Jung’s psychology and Plato.

"Actually, all the books are interconnected," Beck said. "They’ve all been a joint effort between the three of us, and I couldn’t have completed them without Brenda and Judy’s help and input."

The trilogy is currently available in the Mabee-Simpson Library on the new book cart.