Duke+UNC Work-in-Progress Series in Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy is a small, in-person workshop co-organized by Wenjin Liu (Duke) and Michael Vazquez (UNC). This series provides a space for scholars from Duke, UNC, and the broader community to present and discuss works in progress on ancient philosophy in a collegial setting. Sessions focus on offering constructive feedback and fostering engagement with ongoing research in Greek and Roman philosophy. Please check this webpage for upcoming events.
March 3, 11:30am–1pm, UNC Philosophy Department Library (Caldwell Hall, 106A)
Wenjin Liu (Duke University): Platonic Curiosity
Abstract
In this paper, I argue that Plato’s Republic offers a coherent account of curiosity through his discussion of the philosophical (philosophos), or wisdom-loving, element within human beings. On my reading, Plato conceives of this element as a rational, non-instrumental appreciation of and attraction to epistemic goods, such as learning and wisdom. While universal to all human beings, this element is unevenly distributed: in most, it exists in a weak and less directive form, whereas in a select few, it dominates the soul, making them philosophical by nature. In these individuals, the philosophical element constitutes a complex cognitive, affective, and motivational orientation toward epistemic goods, dynamically attuned to their capacities and stages of development. However, in all cases, it requires a supportive intellectual environment to flourish.
Along the way, I challenge the dominant fragmented reading of Plato’s account, which denies that he presents a unified conception of the philosophical element. I argue instead that its apparently divergent manifestations across different individuals point to instantiations of the same rational element within individuals of diverse innate endowments, stages of development, and intellectual environments. Beyond Plato scholarship, my reading contributes to contemporary debates on curiosity. It captures curiosity’s core features—its desire-like nature and its orientation toward knowledge, truth, or other epistemic goods. It also reconciles opposing views that treat curiosity as either an epistemic virtue or a potential vice, explaining how it can be ennobling or corrupting depending on its cultivation. Further, my proposal offers a unifying framework for what scholars often regard as distinct types of curiosity. Ultimately, I argue that Plato presents the philosophical element, in which curiosity is rooted, not merely as an intellectual impulse but also as a fundamental force of self-healing.
For full paper, see here: Platonic Curiosity v1
April 21, 11:30am–1pm, UNC Philosophy Department Library (Caldwell Hall, 106A)
Rory Hanlon (UNC): TBA
