Projects Supported by the Foundation
The Foundation is committed to supporting those who undertake research, scholarship and education in this field, particularly the next generation of scholars and researchers, and to work with them to make known the importance of this work to the wider public.
Since it was established, the Foundation has provided financial support to a variety of projects.
Today, funding for academic teaching and research related to the Platonic Tradition is limited, which causes many scholars, students and researchers to become discouraged and leave for other fields. Such tenured positions as do exist are disappearing. Those with a keen and active interest in the subject must often survive on a series of short-term grants, fellowships, and bursaries. We wish to support those studying in this area or contemplating doing so. We have already funded several PhD students and a post-doctoral researcher in ancient philosophy.
Dr David Horan has been working since 2008 on a new translation of the complete works of Plato from the original Greek into English. His work is almost done. This is a remarkable achievement. Not since the great undertaking of Benjamin Jowett in the late nineteenth century has anyone taken on the challenge of translating the whole of Plato’s writings single-handed into English.
This is a consistent modern translation which is true to the original and yet in a readable style. The Foundation has agreed to fund the publication of this translation at an affordable price for use by scholars and the general public alike. This is expected to be available at the end of 2024.
The Foundation has supported the dramatisation of several of Plato’s dialogues. These dialogues are wonderful works of literature and naturally lend themselves to being presented on stage or in film in a dramatic form. This can be an effective way of introducing Plato’s works to a wider audience.
Looking to the future, to sustain scholarship in the Platonic Tradition, it is vital that schools continue to educate students to be proficient in Ancient Greek. In the UK, we have begun to work with the English charity known as Classics for All, which has been very successful in introducing the study of Latin and Ancient Greek and classical studies into state schools.
For the first time ever, the complete works of Plato, as translated by Dr David Horan, are freely available online to everyone in the world. This is an invaluable resource and access to the complete works of Plato has never been easier. This area of the website will be expanded to include guides and general resource materials to assist those interested in this area of study.
The Foundation has helped finance several seminars on Ancient Philosophy. Philosophic discussion, enquiry and debate are at the heart of the Platonic Tradition. We are keen to support other seminars and events for academics and the wider public in this area.
The Platonic Tradition has been served by some extraordinary men and women over the last half century who, through their work and teaching, have inspired many of today’s scholars. We intend to produce a series of recorded interviews with some of these figures as a way of honouring them and their work and as an inspiration for future generations.