Examining the Nature of Socratic Citizenship: An Inquiry Into the Voegelinian Conception of Consciousness

<p>This thesis explores Socrates as the paradigmatic citizen through Eric Voegelin’s theory of consciousness. While scholars tend to ground the source of Socrates’ civic behavior in the self, I maintain that his<em> daimonion</em> is the very essence of his citizenship. Illustrating that spiritual openness endows him with the highest level of consciousness within the polis, I argue that Socrates’ efforts to democratize truth are the direct result of his adherence to divine authority. In doing so, I assert that he is neither a self-interested civic actor nor an atheist. By examining Platonic philosophy through the lens of Voegelinian thought I offer a new perspective of Socrates that addresses spiritual openness as the crux of his citizenship. Most importantly, however, this project illustrates the public philosopher’s contributive and participatory citizenship within the polis.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Political Science, International Development, and International Affairs

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Fontenot, Emma Christine

Contributors dc:contributor

• Marek Steedman
• Troy Gibson
• Miles Doleac

• Socrates
• Citizenship
• Voegelin
• Strauss
• Eros
• Paradigmatic
• Political Science
• Political Theory

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/100

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-1116