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Abstract
In this presentation I will defend the idea that Plato is the main model that allows us to understand Voegelin’s The New Science of Politics (1952). As Voegelin says to Engel-Janosi, this book is “a systematic study of the foundation of a political science in the Platonic sense (that implies a philosophy of history)”. Throughout the presentation I will examine the presence of Plato in the New Science through four aspects, trying to relate each specific aspect with its relevance in the constitution of the book. Firstly, the relevance of understanding political science in the context of the Hellenic crisis; secondly, Voegelin understanding of the movement from doxa to episteme (as it is found in Plato) as a model for “critical clarification”; thirdly, the importance of myth and religious experiences to generate relevant political principles, specially concerning the anthropological truth. Finally, we will deal with Voegelin’s conception of a civil theology as Plato has envisaged.
Eric Voegelin-Studies: Supplements offers an ideal forum to further elaborate on specific aspects of the contributions in the Yearbook. This creates scope for smaller or larger monographs as well as publications by several authors. The Supplements are conceived as an international and interdisciplinary project. They are intended to expand scholarly exchange and international collaboration on Voegelin’s work.