What We Do
The Plato Centre organises and directs a variety of activities in the area of the history of Platonism and contemporary philosophy in the Platonist tradition. Although based in Trinity College, the Centre draws its members from all the major universities in the Dublin area. It combines several subject areas in addition to its core disciplines: philosophy and classics. Its activities include:
THE WEEKLY READING SEMINAR goes back to the original founding of the Centre and its aim is to bring together scholars and students to engage in close readings of core texts from the Platonic tradition, and modern philosophical texts that have a Platonic influence.
THE SUPERVISION OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWS is one of the primary functions of the Centre. The Centre has a proud tradition of providing support and supervision for candidates who are working toward the M.Litt and Ph.D. degrees. Postgraduate students who are enrolled in any of the major Dublin universities in philosophy, classics or a related discipline, and are working on a topic within the Platonic Tradition may seek supervision with one of the members of the Centre. Please click here for a list of former and current postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows and their projects.
THE POSTGRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL WORKSHOP is a recent introduction to the Centre with the aim of providing a forum in which advanced students can present their work–in–progress on a regular basis for the scrutiny of each other and of scholars in attendance.
THE VISITING SPEAKER COLLOQUIUM attracts distinguished scholars from around the world and has for many years been a lively venue for discussion and debate – typically extending into convivial evenings.
THE ANNUAL STEPHEN MACKENNA LECTURE is named in commemoration of the great Irish translator of Plotinus and is designed to honor distinguished contemporary scholars working in the field of Plato and the Platonic tradition
THE PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES was conceived by John Dillon and inaugurated with his memorable talk "Platonism and the World Crisis", for the purpose of bringing a Platonic perspective to the problems of everyday life.
On October 21, 2004, there took place the formal opening, by the Provost of Trinity College, Professor John Hegarty, of the library and seminar room of the Centre located in the 1937 Reading Room in Front Squre, Trinity College. And the Centre, originally founded in 1997, at long last had a permanent home. The premises in which we conduct our activities also house the largest collection of books relating to Platonism in the Republic of Ireland: some 2,500 volumes donated to the Centre and to Trinity College by Professor John Dillon.