History of Philosophy of Mind

The Relevance of Plato’s Battle in Modern Philosophy

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. 

Philosophy and Loneliness: An Interview with Dr. Mijuskovic

Huw Davies shared a conversation with Dr. Mijuskovic on the American Philosophical Association Blog on November 18th titled “Loneliness and Philosophy.” In their conversation, Mijuskovic responds to questions of definitions, the Kantian tradition in his work, existential loneliness, politics, governmental interventions, narcissism, and the limits of determinism and materialism in contemporary sciences.

Please like, share, and savor Dr. Mijuskovic’s wisdom as the esteemed American Philosophical Association recognizes and appreciates.

Palgrave Macmillan Release April 2023

Dr. Mijuskovic has recently released another installment published by Palgrave Macmillan titled Theories of Conscious and the Problem of Evil in the History of Ideas. In this book, Ben Lazare Mijuskovic uses both an interdisciplinary and History of Ideas approach to discuss four forms of intertwined theories of human consciousness and reflexive self-consciousness (Plato, Augustine, Descartes, Leibniz, Kant, and Hegel; Schopenhauer’s subconscious irrational Will; Brentano and Husserl’s transcendent intentionality; and Freud’s dynamic ego). Mijuskovic explores these theories within the context of psychological issues, where the discussion is undergirded by the conflict between loneliness and intimacy. He also explores them in the context of ethics, where the dynamic is between the values of good and evil. The book historically traces these issues in both a personal as well as a political framework.

Palgrave MacMillan Release January 2023

Dr. Ben Lazare Mijuskovic has another installment in The Philosophical Roots of Loneliness and Intimacy to open the New Year.

In this book, Mijuskovic combines Kant’s theory of reflexive self-consciousness with Husserl’s transcendent principle of intentionality to describe the distinctive philosophical, psychological, and sociological roots of loneliness and intimacy. He argues that loneliness is innate, unavoidable, and constituted by the structure of self-consciousness itself.

Check it out on Palgrave Macmillan’s official site for details.

Dr. Mijuskovic presents at the 2nd International Pandisciplinary Symposium on Solitude in Community

Dr. Benjamin Mijuskovic had the privilege of attending and presenting this international gathering of scholars focused on solitude. We hope you enjoy this talk from September 2020 which ties together the work from his two recent books focused on the history of philosophy and psychology of Loneliness published by Brill and Praeger.