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Intro -- Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction: The Problem of Courage -- The Return of Courage -- A Modern Approach to Courage -- The Feminist Critique of Courage -- Courage and Liberalism -- Approaching Plato -- 1 Courage and the Education in Virtue -- Two Notions of Courage -- A Paternal Perspective on Education -- The Benefits of Spear-Fighting -- Socrates' Rhetorical Strategy -- 2 Noble Courage: Socrates and Laches -- Laches -- Standing One's Ground -- Steadfastness of Soul -- The Goodness of Courage -- 3 Courage and Wisdom: Socrates and Nicias -- Nicias' Socratism -- Courage as Knowledge -- Natural Strength and Prudent Forethought -- The Terrible and Emboldening Things -- Courageous Knowledge -- 4 The Nature of Spiritedness -- The Role of Spiritedness in the Republic -- Spiritedness, Anger, and Justice -- Noble Spiritedness -- 5 The Guardians' Education in Courage -- Spiritedness and the Problem of the Guardians -- Anger's Weakness -- Magnificence -- The Limitations of Political Courage -- 6 Courage and Philosophy -- An Education for Courage -- Courage and the Problem of the Good -- Courage in the Cave -- Courage and the Path to Philosophy -- Conclusion: The Promise of Courage -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W -- X -- Z.

Plato's treatments of women are perplexing because they seem to justify both gender equality and female subordination. Faced with evidence of both, scholars typically ask whether Plato promotes gender equality or patriarchy rather than what a particular treatment of women means in the dialogue to which it belongs. This article seeks to clarify Plato's treatment of women by focusing on women's education in theLawsand analyzing it in the context of his Athenian Stranger's attempt at rational political reform. It argues that in exploring the differences between men and women, Plato shows them to be ones of degree rather than kind and identifies a common human weakness shared by both genders that is the greatest obstacle to his reform. This approach reveals a profound examination of ahumanproblem and an instructive account of the challenges that accompany the quest for gender equality.