Here is a brief synopsis of Dr. Mijuskovic’s latest installment Plato’s Battle Between the Gods and Giants and its Continuing Relevance in the Speculative Philosophy of History published by Brill in the Value Inquiry Book Series.

Ben Mijuskovic’s concept of “Plato’s Battle between the Gods and the Giants” refers to a metaphorical interpretation of Plato’s philosophical ideas, where the “Gods” represent the realm of ideals, reason, and spiritual consciousness, while the “Giants” symbolize the material world, sensory perception, and deterministic forces, highlighting a continuous philosophical struggle throughout history between these opposing perspectives on reality and human knowledge; essentially arguing that this ancient conflict remains relevant in modern philosophical debates between idealism and materialism.

Key points about Mijuskovic’s interpretation:

• Idealism vs. Materialism: The “Gods” are associated with Plato’s theory of Forms, the perfect and unchanging realm of ideas, while the “Giants” represent the physical world and its limitations, mirroring the ongoing debate about the nature of reality and whether consciousness is fundamentally spiritual or solely based on physical processes.

• Application to Contemporary Philosophy: Mijuskovic uses this metaphor to analyze various philosophical positions throughout history, aligning thinkers who prioritize reason and spiritual aspects with the “Gods” and those who emphasize empirical evidence and physical determinism with the “Giants”.

• Relevance to Societal Issues: By examining this battle through a historical lens, Mijuskovic argues that the tension between these two forces can manifest in societal issues like political conflicts. scientific controversies, and even personal struggles with meaning and purpose.