Plato is a philosopher of man who is interested in man, not only as he should be, but as he is in the community, says prof. Ph.D Sonja Tomović Šundić which presented its anthropological dimension, important for the peculiar way of thinking of the Greek philosopher, in the latest book "Plato's Anthropological Idea", which was promoted in Nikšić.
Reviewer of the book, prof. Ph.D Cedomir Čupić, said that it is a book of deep reflection on a content-rich, fruitful, inspired and inspiring philosophy, the philosophy of one of the most significant and intelligent philosophers of ancient Greek thought, Plato. He reminded that Plato was the first systematic Greek philosopher who included all that is essential, valuable and significant for the thought view of nature and its living world.
"He penetrated deeply - into the external, and into the internal, that is, what surrounds us, but also what is inside us. Through thoughts and ideas, he captured the macrocosm in which we live, but also the microcosm that is in us humans", said Čupić.
According to him, the book "Plato's Anthropological Idea" is something new in the interpretation of Plato.
"This is a great view of Plato's entire philosophy from the best position for us - the anthropological one. Through anthropology, she gave everything that is important, which is related to the philosopher who was the first to systematically cover it all, "said the professor.
According to him, in the book, Sonja Tomović Šundić presented man in a different way, from a new angle and with a lot of warmth of thought through Plato's anthropological idea. Each chapter in the book, as Čupić said, deserves a separate symposium, and he referred to the determination of man as a moral being - the most difficult form of human life, but also the most sublime, honorable and beautiful.
"The author emphasizes that Plato's understanding of morality is 'closely connected with his epistemology', but also with his fundamental teaching on virtue and its role in achieving mental harmony," said Čupić.
As he concluded, Tomović Šundić pointed out that Plato and Platonism left a legacy to the modern world that morality is necessary for happiness and any worthy life, while her book is extremely stimulating and significant and represents "the opening of the spiritual appetite".
Journalist and publicist Vanja Kovačević pointed out that with the book "Plato's Anthropological Idea", Tomović Šundić narrates the story in a questionable and unobtrusive, but at the same time impressive, philosophically grounded way, reminding us that it is not only a book about Plato, but also a book about us, our readiness and the determination not to forget the element that makes us thinking beings, and most of all human beings". Her book, as he said, is "a direct attempt to draw attention to the things that make us better and who we are - people who, through the teachings of a great thinker, have a chance to better understand the world around them and those who stand against us".
"Sonja Tomović Šundić's sensors very accurately and often unmistakably detect the spirit of the times, its changes, ups and downs, its key characteristics. In the manner of a skilled author, who feels the pulse of the age, she makes it clear to us that philosophy is not for knowing who said what, but for us to build our own in relation to certain attitudes, in this case Plato's," said Kovačević.
As he pointed out, the author of the book managed to overcome the temporal gap between Plato's time and ours, unequivocally communicating why Plato should be read even today, and why he is so worthy of attention.
"By careful reading, we will understand that through a chronological sequence the author not only gave a clear overview of Plato's thought and the anthropological element in it, but that at the same time, without us even being aware of it at the moment, she revealed to us, as if in the palm of her hand, the story of the history of philosophy, giving her historical overview and cross-section. We realize that only when we close the book and look at its contents", said Kovačević.
According to him, the author confirmed with the book that philosophy has not disappeared, as well as that "the queen of philosophical disciplines is ontology, and along with it, anthropology.
"Because no matter what, and no matter what they do, a person will always be in the center of attention. Not because of the desire to feed his own vanity, but because of his curiosity, that is, his desire to find out who he is and to try to answer the key questions of his existence", Kovačević concluded.
At the end of the evening, the author spoke and pointed out that the book was written for a long time and that it was written after her book on Aristotle, where it went in reverse order - from student to teacher.
"I worked on the book for a long time, trying to find that essential thread, which is anthropological... I tried to put Plato in the context of modern man and to try to offer answers to the modern reader... I tried to present Plato's answer in a drinkable and simple way, to enter into the essence of his thought and to show that man has every right to believe in his deeper spiritual essence which is indestructible, eternal, but also that we are eternal", said Tomović Šundić.
According to her, there is no happiness, spirituality, morality, without the highest themes that make our soul alive and happy.
The promotion of the book, which was published by the "Njegoš" National Library from Nikšić in the "Signum" edition, was organized by the "Njegoš" Library and the Municipality of Nikšić, as part of the April repertoire of the Nikšić cultural scene.
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