Ronald B. Levinson

Ronald Bartlett Levinson ( born October 18, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois, † November 21, 1980 in Bangor, Maine) was an American historian of philosophy.

Levinson completed his studies in philosophy at Harvard University in 1920 with the AB and from 1924 at the University of Chicago for the Ph.D. doctorate. In 1926 he took his first job at the University of Maine, on the 1927 was a professor of philosophy and director of the Department of Philosophy. Levinson also was a member of the American Philosophical Association and the Society of Ancient Philosophy.

Levinson focused in his research on Greek philosophy, especially Plato and the history of Platonism (especially to the Platonist Thomas Taylor). He achieved international fame through his book In Defense of Plato ( 1953), in which he defended Plato against the serious allegations made by Karl Popper, who saw Plato as the mastermind of totalitarianism.

Writings (selection )

• Thomas Taylor, the Platonist. In 1924.
• Spenser and Bruno. 1928.
• The college journey. An introduction to the fields of college study. In 1938.
• In Defense of Plato. 1953rd Review: DA Rees, in: Philosophy 32 (1957 ), p 85; William Ebenstein, In: Political Research Quarterly September 7, 1954, pp. 481-482; Walter Kaufmann, in: The Journal of Politics 17, 1955, pp. 126-128.
• The Sophists. In: The Review of Metaphysics, Vol 8, 1955, pp. 455-457 online
• Language and the " Cratylus ". Four Questions. In: The Review of Metaphysics, Vol 11, 1957, pp. 28-41, online.
• Plato's Phaedrus and the New Criticism. In: Archives for the History of Philosophy, Vol 46, 1964, p 293-309 online.
• A reader of Plato. In 1966.