This chapter provides an illustration of the history of modern philosophy from the point of view of theater. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the premise that Plato should be considered an enemy of the theater by theater establishments and philosophy began to collapse. Plato had been accepted not only by dramatists but also by philosophers as a playwright. A “theatrical turn” or “dramatic turn” returned philosophy to its dramatic origin. This chapter presents how Plato's dialogues are now routinely performed in theaters and how theater establishments coped with his radical reforms.

This chapter provides an illustration of the history of modern philosophy from the point of view of theater. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the premise that Plato should be considered an enemy of the theater by theater establishments and philosophy began to collapse. Plato had been accepted not only by dramatists but also by philosophers as a playwright. A “theatrical turn” or “dramatic turn” returned philosophy to its dramatic origin. This chapter presents how Plato's dialogues are now routinely performed in theaters and how theater establishments coped with his radical reforms.