Since the draft of my monograph Plato and Pythagoreanism (Oxford University Press) is now complete and we’re hoping to go to press relatively soon – did anyone wonder where I’ve been for a while? – I thought I’d take a page out of Adrienne Mayor’s book (who did this on Facebook with her Poison King) and solicit the opinion of my readers and friends regarding ideas for the cover of my book. The book is essentially about the ways in which Plato and the Pythagoreans engaged in understanding the mathematicization of the universe and of things in it, including human beings – in particular, how something can at one time be one and many, how it can retain its numerical identity while being subject to many predicates. Here are the three finalists:
1. Sublimate XIII by Antony Gormley (2007)
2. Fragmentary Bronze Head of a Philosopher (4th Century BCE)
3. Ancient of Days by William Blake (1794)
Of course, each one has its own value, and much can be read into each image. I won’t tell you my reasons for selecting these, because I want to hear what people think first. So I’m going to try something new and put up a poll to see how the vote turns out. Comments that give rationales for your votes would be much appreciated. I can’t promise that the press will agree with me (or you), but hey, that’s the fun of the internet, right? You get to express your opinion whether or not it matters!
Phillip Horky
workofmemory 