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What happens when a philosopher tries to change the world—not through words, but by shaping a king?
In this episode, we sit down with James Romm, classical historian and author of Plato and the Tyrant, a gripping narrative about Plato's dramatic real-world attempt to bring his philosophical ideals to life in the court of the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse. Through ambition, betrayal, and idealism, Romm explores the tensions between power and wisdom—and why even Plato wasn't immune to the seductions of political influence.
By Matt Crawford5
2828 ratings
What happens when a philosopher tries to change the world—not through words, but by shaping a king?
In this episode, we sit down with James Romm, classical historian and author of Plato and the Tyrant, a gripping narrative about Plato's dramatic real-world attempt to bring his philosophical ideals to life in the court of the tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse. Through ambition, betrayal, and idealism, Romm explores the tensions between power and wisdom—and why even Plato wasn't immune to the seductions of political influence.

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