Time as a Political Resource: Early Greek Thought and Plato’s Philosophy of Time

Abstract

In the article, the author reconstructs the intellectual context relevant to Plato’s ‘philosophy of time’. First of all, since the previous to Plato tradition does not produce the unified concept of time, the problem of multiplicity of times is discussed. Then, the author examines the peculiar experience of the instability of time, linking dimensions of human behavior and cosmic order. Finally, the problem of affectivity of time and the need for standardizing of time for political coexistence is considered. It is argued that the concept of time is what allows Plato to connect micro-level of individual behavior with meso-level of politics and macro-level of nature.