Books by Plato

Book SynopsisIn the Laws, Plato describes in fascinating detail a comprehensive system of legislation in a small agricultural utopia he named Magnesia. His laws not only govern crime and punishment, but also form a code of conduct for all aspects of life in his ideal state - from education, sport and religion to sexual behaviour, marriage and drinking parties. Plato sets out a plan for the day-to-day rule of Magnesia, administered by citizens and elected officials, with supreme power held by a Council. Although Plato''s views that citizens should act in complete obedience to the law have been read as totalitarian, the Laws nonetheless constitutes a highly impressive programme for the reform of society and provides a crucial insight into the mind of one of Classical Greece''s foremost thinkers.Table of ContentsThe LawsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroductionUtopianismPlato's Life and WorkPlato's Political ThoughtThe RepublicThe StatesmanThe LawsThe Relationship Between the Republic and the LawsMagnesia: the New Utopiaa. Size and Situationb. Population and Occupationsc. Educationd. Religione. Lawf. Government and AdministrationPlato and TotalitarianismThe Modern Reaction to PlatoComposition and Structure of the Laws: SummaryFurther ReadingNote on the TranslationThe Laws1. The Inadequacy of Spartan and Cretan LegislationIntroductory ConversationThe Aim of Spartan and Cretan LawsCourage and Pleasure2. Drinking Parties as an Educational DeviceTeetotallers MisguidedCan Drinking Parties be Educational?Interlude: The Athenian Pressed for an AnswerThe Nature and Purpose of EducationThe Educational Effect of Drinking Parties3. The Arts in the Service of EducationThe Nature and Purpose of Educationhow the Arts should reinforce EducationIs Pleasure the Proper Criterion in the Arts?Artistic Censorship in EgyptJustice and Happiness for TogetherChildren are Easily PersuadedThe Three ChorusesQualifications of the Third Chorus, and an Attack on Contemporary Trends in the ArtsThe Educational Effects of Drinking PartiesSumming-up on the Uses of Drink4. The Lessons of History: Legislation and the Balance of PowersLife after the FloodAutocracyThe Primitive City and the Origin of LegislationTroyThe Dorian LeagueWhy did the League Fail?Seven Titles to AuthorityThe Reasons for Sparta's Success5. The Lessons of History (2): Monarchy and DemocracyTwo Mother-ConstitutionsThe Persian MonarchyAthens and the Persian WarsThe Corruption of the Athenian DemocracyRecapitulationThe Proposed New Cretan Colony6. Magnesia and Its PeopleNatural ResourcesThe ColonistsThe Need for a Benevolent DictatorWhat Constitution is to be Imposed?The Age of CronusLaw should be SupremeAddress to the New Colonists7. The Correct way to Legislate: Laws and PreamblesIntroductionPhysical FitnessWealthThe Correct Treatment of ChildrenDuties to Relatives, Friends and StateDuties to ForeignersPersonal MoralityHow to Handle CriminalsSelfishnessExtremes of Emotion to be AvoidedVirtue and Happiness9. The Foundation of the New StatePreliminary Analysis of the StateThe Selection of the CitizensDistributing the Land (1)The Size of the Population (1)Religious and Social OccasionsStates Ideal and Real: Community of PropertyDistributing the Land (2)The Size of the Population (2)Holdings are InalienableThe Possession of MoneyThe Four Property-ClassesAdministrative Units of the StateTheory to be Modified by FactsThe Pre-eminence of MathematicsInfluences of Climate10. Civil and Legal AdministrationProblems of Appointing the First OfficialsThe Election of the Guardians of the LawsDuties and Tenure of the Guardians; Registration of PropertyMilitary OfficialsGeneralsCompany-CommandersThe ElectionsCavalry-CommandersDisrupted VotesThe Election of the CouncilThe Notion of EqualityThe Executive Committee of the CouncilOther Officials; PriestsThe Election of the ExpoundersTresurersThe Protection of the TerritoryThe Rural CourtsHow the Country-Wardens are to LiveThe City-WardensThe Market-WardensEducation OfficalsThe Minister of EducationDeath in OfficeThree Grades of CourtElection of the Supreme CourtCorrupt VerdictsThe Court of the PeopleThe Tribal CourtsOur Scheme is only a Sketch11. Marriage and Related TopicsThe Younger LegislatorsThe Organization of Religious FestivalsMarriage: Choosing a Partner (1)Changing the LawsThe Law of MarriagePreamble to the Law of Marriage: Choosing a Partner (2)Failure to MarryDowriesThe Wedding-FeastCorrect Procreation (1)The Life of the Newly-WedsThe Problem of SlaveryThe Buildings of the StateWomen must join the Communal MealsThree Instictive Drives: Food, Drink, SexCorrect ProcreationAdulteryRegistration of Births and DeathsAge Limits12. EducationWritten and Unwritten RulesEducation in the WombThe Importance of Movement: the Evidence of Corybantic Ritualhow far should a Child be Humoured?Unwritten Rules: a ReminderEarly EducationAmbidexterityPhysical Training (1)The Dangers of Innovation in EducationCome Model RulesThe Regulation of MusicThe Right Use of LeisureAttendance at SchoolThe Education of FemalesHow to Live a life of LeisureFurther Duties of the Minister of EducationThe Legislator's Instuctions to the Minister of Education: the CurriculumLiteratureA Set Text: Selections from the Laws of PlatoMusicComedy and TragedyMathematicsAstronomyHunting: Written and Unwritten Rules again13. Sport and Military TrainingArrangements for FestivalsMilitary TrainingObstacles to Correct Military TrainingRacesContests in ArmsHorse-RacingConclusion14. Problems of Sexual ConductThe Problems StatedThree Kinds of FriendshipHow to Discourage Unnatural Sexual IntercourseThe Importance of Self-ControlTwo Alternative Laws15. Agriculture, Economics and TradeThe Food SupplyAgricultural LawsDuties to NeighborsThe Water Supply (1)The harvestThe Water Supply (2)Bringing in CropsArtisansImports and ExportsThe Food Supply (2)Dwelling HousesThe MarketsResident Aliens16. Capital OffencesPreliminary DiscussionRobbery from TemplesProcedure in Capital CasesSubversionTreason17. The Theory of PunishmentTheft: Should all Thefts Attract the Same Punichment?Philosophical Legislation JustifiedA 'Terminological Inexactitude'The Attack on the Distinction between 'Voluntary' and 'Involuntary'The New Distinction, and the Purpose of PunichmentA Fuller Account of Injustice18. Homicide LawPersons Unfit to PleadInvoluntary HomicideHomicide in AngerVoluntary HomicideSuicideAnimals and Inanimate Objects as KillersMurder by Persons UnknownJustifiable Homicide19. WoundingsPreliminariesThe Courts' DiscretionVoluntary Wounding, and a Digression on Adopting an Heir in Cases of ChildlessnessWoundings Inflicted in AngerInvoluntary Woundings20. Assault21. ReligionThree Sources of ImpietyThe Case of the OppositionAddress to the Young HereticNature and Chance versus DesignThe Difficulties of Refuting AtheistsThe Priority of Soul (1)Ten Kinds of MotionSoul Moves ItselfThe Priority of Soul (2)Soul moves the Heavenly BodiesAddress to the Believer in the Indifference of the GodsProof that the Gods care for MankindThe Justice of the Gods, and the Fate of the SoulTransition to the Law of ImpietyTwo Kinds of OffendersThe Punishment for ImpietyPrivate Shrines22. The Law of PropertyRespect for PropertyRemoval of Buried TreasureRemoval of Property in GeneralThe Treatment of Slaves and Freedom23. Commercial LawThe Law of Sale and ExchangeRetail TradeContractsDealings with CraftsmenMilitary 'Craftsmen'24. Family LawMaking a WillTestamentary and Inheritance LawHow to Mitigate the Harshness of the LawThe Care of OrphansDisinheritanceSenilityDivorce and RemarriageDeath of a Wife or HusbandChildren of Mixed StatusRespect for Parents25. Miscellaneous LegislationNon-fatal Injuries by Drugs and CharmsThe Purpose of PunishmentLunacyAbuseThe Censorship of ComediesBeggarsDamage by SlavesFurther Rules of Legal ProcedureUnscrupulous AdvocacyOffences Committed by Members of Diplomatic MissionsTheft of Public PropertyMilitary ServiceAbandonment of WeaponsThe Need for ScrutineersThe Funeral of a ScrutineerProsecutions of ScrutineersOathsRefusal to Contribute to Public ExpensesRelations with the Outside WorldForeign TravelThe ObserversForiegn VisitorsSuretiesSearching a HouseTime Limits for Disputing TitlePrevention of Attendance at CourtPrevention of Participation in ContestsReceiving Stolen GoodsHarbouring an ExileWaging Private WarBribesTaxationOfferings to the GodsThe Three Grades of CourtThe Minor Points of Legal Procedure, and the Importance of Legal StudiesThe Execution of JudgementFuneral Regulations26. The Nocturnal CouncilHow can the State be Preserved Intact?Membership and Functions of the CouncilThe Unity and Plurality of VirtueThe Council's Duty to TeachThe Higher Education of the CouncilThe Importance of TheologyRecruitment of the Council, and its Course of StudiesClosing RemarksDepartures from the Budé TextMap of Central CreteList of CrimesAppendix: Plato's LettersNotesIndex of Names

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Book SynopsisThis edition includes the entire surviving corpus attributed to Plato in antiquity. In addition to the texts, it contains introductions to the works, discussion on the chronology of their composition, comments on the dialogue form in which Plato wrote, and guidance on reading and studying Plato.Trade Review"This is clearly the definitive edition in English of the Platonic writings. It replaces completely the Hamilton-Cairns collection. . . . The notes are at just the right level, and the index is very helpful. The translations are both readable and accurate. They are always reliable, and in most cases the best available. It is the one volume of Plato every student of philosophy will want at her or his side." --Michael D. Rohr, Rutgers University"The most important publishing event in Platonic translation is the Complete Works edited by Cooper and Hutchinson. . . . Hackett has lavished great care in the production of this volume: fine India paper, elegant typography, sewn binding, and cloth boards. . . . It should be in every library and on the shelves of all lovers of Plato." --Steven J. Willett, Syllecta Classica"The edition is a vast improvement over the Princeton/Bollingen edition, the former standard. Congratulations on a fine work!" --Christian K. Edemeyer, Columbia University"It is hard to imagine how this English translation of Plato's Complete Works could be improved upon. A century may pass before it has a rival. Its editors and translators deserve the highest praise." --David K. Glidden, University of California at RiversideTable of ContentsIntroduction; Editorial Notes; AcknowledgmentsEuthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo, trans. G. M. A. GrubeCratylus, trans. C. D. C. ReeveTheaetetus, trans. M. J. Levett, rev. M. BurnyeatSophist, trans. N. WhiteStatesman, trans. C. J. RoweParmenides, trans. M. L. Gill and P. RyanPhilebus, trans. D. FredeSymposium, Phaedrus, trans. A. Nehamas and P. WoodruffAlcibiades, trans. D. S. HutchinsonSecond Alcibiades, trans. A. KennyHipparchus, trans. N. SmithRival Lovers, trans. J. MitscherlingTheages, trans. N. D. SmithCharmides, Laches, trans. R. K. SpragueLysis, trans. S. LombardoEuthydemus, trans. R. K. SpragueProtagoras, trans. S. Lombardo and K. BellGorgias, trans. D. J. ZeylMeno, trans. G. M. A. GrubeGreater Hippias, trans. P. WoodruffLesser Hippias, trans. N. J. SmithIon, trans. P. WoodruffMenexenus, trans. P. RyanClitophon, trans. F. J. GonzalezRepublic, trans. G. M. A. Grube, rev. C. D. C. ReeveTimaeus, trans. D. J. ZeylCritias, trans. D. ClayMinos, trans. M. SchofieldLaws, trans. T. SaundersEpinomis, trans. R. D. McKirahan, JrLetters, trans. G. R. MorrowDefinitions, trans. D. S. HutchinsonOn Justice, trans. A. S. BeckerOn Virtue, trans. M. ReuterDemodocus, trans. J. BarnesSisyphus, trans. D. GallopHalcyon, trans. B. InwoodEryxias, trans. M. JoyalAxiochus, trans. J. P. HershbellEpigrams, trans. J. M. Edmonds, rev. J. M. Cooper Index

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Book SynopsisPresented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, this classic text is an enquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation, other questions are raised: what is goodness? What is reality? And what is knowledge? The Republic also addresses the purpose of education and the role of both women and men as guardians of the people. With remarkable lucidity and deft use of allegory, Plato arrives at a depiction of a state bound by harmony and ruled by philosopher kings. 

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Book SynopsisThroughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are. Plato''s retelling of the discourses between Socrates and his friends on such subjects as love and desire, truth and illusion, spiritual transcendence and the qualities of a good ruler, profoundly affected the ways in which we view human relationships, society and leadership - and shaped the whole tradition of Western philosophy.

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Book SynopsisTimaeus and Critias is a Socratic dialogue in two parts. A response to an account of an ideal state told by Socrates, it begins with Timaeus’s theoretical exposition of the cosmos and his story describing the creation of the universe, from its very beginning to the coming of man. Timaeus introduces the idea of a creator God and speculates on the structure and composition of the physical world. Critias, the second part of Plato’s dialogue, comprises an account of the rise and fall of Atlantis, an ancient, mighty and prosperous empire ruled by the descendents of Poseidon, which ultimately sank into the sea.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and not

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Book SynopsisThe Phaedo is acknowledged to be one of Plato''s greatest masterpieces, showing him both as a philosopher and as a dramatist at the height of his powers. For its moving account of the execution of Socrates, the Phaedo ranks among the supreme literary achievements of antiquity. It is also a seminal document for many ideas deeply ingrained in western culture, and provides one of the best introductions to Plato''s thought. This new edition is a revised version of the Clarendon Press translation, and is eminently suitable for readers new to Plato, and ideal for classroom use, thanks to the provision of Stephanus page and letter numbering. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clariTrade ReviewThe new translation is freer in some places making it more accessible to those encountering Plato for the first time. An essential book for those who desire an introduction to Platonic philosophy. * The Greek Gazette *

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Book Synopsis''Some of our greatest blessings come from madnessPhaedrus is widely recognized as one of Plato''s most profound and beautiful works. It takes the form of a dialogue between Socrates and Phaedrus and its ostensible subject is love, especially homoerotic love. Socrates reveals it to be a kind of divine madness that can allow our souls to grow wings and soar to their greatest heights. Then the conversation changes direction and turns to a discussion of rhetoric, which must be based on truth passionately sought, thus allying it to philosophy. The dialogue closes by denigrating the value of the written word in any context, compared to the living teaching of a Socratic philosopher.The shifts of topic and register have given rise to doubts about the unity of the dialogue, doubts which are addressed in the introduction to this volume. Full explanatory notes also elucidate issues throughout the dialogue that might puzzle a modern reader. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Cla

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Book SynopsisWorks in this volume explore the relationship between two people known as love (erōs) or friendship (philia). In Lysis, Socrates meets two young men at a wrestling school; in Symposium, he joins a company of accomplished men at a drinking party; and in Phaedrus, experimental speeches about love lead to a discussion of rhetoric.

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Book SynopsisTranslated by John Llewelyn Davies and David James Vaughan. With an Introduction by Stephen Watt. The ideas of Plato (c429-347BC) have influenced Western philosophers for over two thousand years. Such is his importance that the twentieth-century philosopher A.N. Whitehead described all subsequent developments within the subject as foot-notes to Plato's work. Beyond philosophy, he has exerted a major influence on the development of Western literature, politics and theology. The Republic deals with the great range of Plato's thought, but is particularly concerned with what makes a well-balanced society and individual. It combines argument and myth to advocate a life organized by reason rather than dominated by desires and appetites. Regarded by some as the foundation document of totalitarianism, by others as a call to develop the full potential of humanity, the Republic remains a challenging and intensely exciting work.

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Book SynopsisTaking the form of a dialogue between Socrates, Gorgias, Polus and Callicles, GORGIAS debates perennial questions about the nature of government and those who aspire to public office. Are high moral standards essential or should we give our preference to the pragmatist who gets things done or negotiates successfully? Should individuals be motivated by a desire for personal power and prestige, or genuine concern for the moral betterment of the citizens? These questions go to the heart of Athenian democratic principles and are more relevant than ever in today''s political climate.Table of ContentsGorgiasAcknowledgmentsReference System Used in this EditionChronolgyIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the TextGorgiasA: Dialogue with GorgiasB: Dialogue with PolusC: Dialogue with CalliclesNotesGlossary of Greek TermsIndex

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Book SynopsisThe struggle which Plato has Socrates recommend to his interlocutors in Gorgias - and to his readers - is the struggle to overcome the temptations of worldly success and to concentrate on genuine morality. Ostensibly an enquiry into the value of rhetoric, the dialogue soon becomes an investigation into the value of these two contrasting ways of life. In a series of dazzling and bold arguments, Plato attempts to establish that only morality can bring a person true happiness, and to demolish alternative viewpoints. It is not suprising that Gorgias is one of Plato''s most widely read dialogues. Philosophers read it for its coverage of central moral issues; others enjoy its vividness, clarity and occasional bitter humour. This new translation is accompanied by explanatory notes and an informative introduction. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s comm

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Book SynopsisMeno Charmides Laches Lysis''Do please try to tell us what courage is...''In these four dialogues Plato considers virtue and its definition. Charmides, Laches, and Lysis investigate the specific virtues of self-control, courage, and friendship; the later Meno discusses the concept of virtue as a whole, and whether it is something that can be taught. In the conversations between Socrates and his interlocutors, moral concepts are debated and shown to be more complex than at first appears, until all the participants in the conversations are reduced to bafflement.The artistry as well as the philosophy of these dialogues has always been widely admired. The introduction to this edition explains the course of the four dialogues and examines the importance of Socrates'' questions and arguments, and the notes cover major and minor points in more detail. This is an essential volume for understanding the brilliance of the first Western philosopher. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford WTable of ContentsMENO; CHARMIDES; LACHES; LYSIS

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Book SynopsisIt has been said that, after the Bible, Plato's dialogues are the most influential books in Western culture. And of the dialogues, the Symposium is the most delightful and accessible, requiring no special knowledge of ancient Greek philosophy or customs. Dramatizing a party in fifth-century B.C. Athens, the deceptively unassuming Symposium introduces--in the guise of convivial after-dinner conversation--profound ideas about the nature of love. In Phaedrus, here published together with the Symposium, Plato discusses the place of eloquence in expounding truth. In both dialogues, Socrates plays the leading role, by turns teasing, arguing, analyzing, joking, inspiring, and cajoling his followers into understanding ideas that have remained central to Western thought through the centuries.

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Book SynopsisPlato was born in Athens in 428 BC. The ancient Greek philosopher was one of the most important thinkers in the history of the Western hemisphere. His work covered themes as broad as politics, virtue, love, art and literature. He was also the first person to mention the lost city of Atlantis, which he claimed was sunk by the Gods in revenge for its attempt to attack Athens.

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Book SynopsisA Plato Reader offers eight of Plato's best-known works--Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, Symposium, Phaedrus, and Republic--unabridged, expertly introduced and annotated, and in widely admired translations by C. D. C. Reeve, G. M. A. Grube, Alexander Nehamas, and Paul Woodruff.The collection features Socrates as its central character and a model of the examined life. Its range allows us to see him in action in very different settings and philosophical modes: from the elenctic Socrates of the Meno and the dialogues concerning his trial and death, to the erotic Socrates of the Symposium and Phaedrus, to the dialectician of the Republic.Of Reeve's translation of this final masterpiece, Lloyd P. Gerson writes, "Taking full advantage of S. R. Slings' new Greek text of the Republic, Reeve has given us a translation both accurate and limpid. Loving attention to detail and deep familiarity with Plato's thought are evident on every page. Reeve's brilliant decision to cast the dialogue into direct speech produces a compelling impression of immediacy unmatched by other English translations currently available."Table of ContentsIntroductionEuthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo, Symposium, Phaedrus, RepublicSelect Bibliography

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Book SynopsisRich in drama and humour, the Early Socratic Dialogues include the controversial Ion, a debate on poetic inspiration; Laches, in which Socrates seeks to define bravery; and Euthydemus, which considers the relationship between philosophy and politics. Together, these dialogues provide a definitive portrait of the real Socrates and raise issues still keenly debated by philosophers, forming an incisive overview of Plato's philosophy.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

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Book SynopsisAn authoritative new translation of Plato's foundational work of Western philosophy The Republic is Plato's masterwork. It was written 2,400 years ago and remains one of the most widely read books in the world, famous for both the richness of its ideas and the virtuosity of its writing. Presented as a dialogue between Plato's teacher Socrates and various interlocutors, it is an exhortation to study philosophy, inviting its readers to reflect on the choices we must make if we are to live the best life available to us. This complex, dynamic work creates a picture of an ideal society governed not money, power, or fame, but by philosophy, wisdom, and justice. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the sTrade Review"Must we not acknowledge...that in each of us there are the same principles and habits which there are in the State; and that from the individual they pass into the State?"What does it mean to be good? What enables us to distinguish right from wrong? And how should human virtues be translated into a just society? These are the questions that Plato sought to answer in this monumental work of moral and political philosophy, a book surpassed only by the Bible in its formative influence on two thousand years of Western thought.In the course of its tautly reasoned Socratic dialogues, The Republic accomplishes nothing less than an anatomy of the soul and an exhaustive description of a State that both mirrors and enforces the soul's ideal harmony. The resulting text is at once mystical and elegantly logical and may be read as a template for the societies in which most of us live today.Vintage Classics are quality paperback editions of the world's greatest written works. They are durably bound and are printed exclusively on acid-free paper.

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Book Synopsis''Consider just this, and give your minds to this alone: whether or not what I say is just'' Plato''s account of Socrates'' trial and death (399 BC) is a significant moment in Classical literature and the life of Classical Athens. In these four dialogues, Plato develops the Socratic belief in responsibility for one''s self and shows Socrates living and dying under his philosophy. In Euthyphro, Socrates debates goodness outside the courthouse; Apology sees him in court, rebutting all charges of impiety; in Crito, he refuses an entreaty to escape from prison; and in Phaedo, Socrates faces his impending death with calmness and skilful discussion of immortality.Christopher Rowe''s introduction to his powerful new translation examines the book''s themes of identity and confrontation, and explores how its content is less historical fact than a promotion of Plato''s Socratic philosophy.

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Book Synopsis''Perhaps the most entertaining work of philosophy ever written ... the first really systematic and serious attempt to say what love is'' John Armstrong, GuardianIn the course of a lively drinking party, a group of Athenian intellectuals exchange views on eros, or desire. From their conversation emerges a series of subtle reflections on gender roles, sex in society and the sublimation of basic human instincts. The discussion culminates in a radical challenge to conventional views by Plato''s mentor, Socrates, who advocates transcendence through spiritual love. The Symposium is a deft interweaving of different viewpoints and ideas about the nature of love - as a response to beauty, a cosmic force or a path to goodness.Translated with an Introduction by Christopher GillTable of ContentsThe SymposiumPrefaceIntroductionThe SymposiumNotesSelect Bibliography

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Book SynopsisRepublic is the central work of the Western world''s most famous philosopher. Essentially an inquiry into morality, Republic also contains crucial arguments and insights into many other areas of philosophy. It is also a literary masterpiece: the philosophy is presented for the most part for the ordinary reader, who is carried along by the wit and intensity of the dialogue and by Plato''s unforgettable images of the human condition. This new, lucid translation by Robin Waterfield is complemented by full explanatory notes and an up-to-date critical introduction. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Reviewcertainly the best translation of the Republic available * Julia Annas *A fine new translation * The Observer *

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Book SynopsisThe newest deluxe edition in the bestselling Capstone Classics Series This ancient classic has had a make-over. In recent years these Capstone Classic deluxe editions have caught the book buying public's imagination.Table of ContentsAn Introduction by Tom Butler-Bowdon vii About Tom Butler-Bowdon xxiii The Republic 1

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Book SynopsisProvides the essential readings for a course on Plato's views of sex and love, or a main component of general courses on ideas of sex and love. This book includes sections on the following topics: Socrates and the Art of Love; Socrates and Athenian Paiderastia; Love and the Assent to the Beautiful; and The Art and Psychology of Love Explained.Trade ReviewThis is a fabulous collection . . . . the translations of Plato's dialogues are the best I've ever read. The introductions are very enlightening. --Bruce Fink, Duquesne University

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Book SynopsisThese new translations present Plato''s remarkable dramatization of the momentous events surrounding the trial of Socrates in 399 BC, on charges of irreligion and corrupting the young. The Euthyphro, Defence of Socrates, and Crito form a dramatic and thematic sequence, raising fundamental questions about the basis of moral, religious, legal, and political obligation. Plato explores these issues with a freshness and directness that have never been surpassed. In the Defence of Socrates, Plato seeks not only to clear his master''s name, but also to defend the whole Socratic way of life, and therefore philosophy itself. The result is an oratorical masterpiece. The Euthyphro, an inquiry into the nature of piety, probes the relationship between religion and morality. The Crito discusses the citizen''s obligation to the state, in the context of a life-or-death issue confronting Socrates himself - whether or not to escape from prison. David Gallop''s Introduction provides a stimulating philos

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Book SynopsisA translation of Plato's dialogue on the nature of pleasure and its relation to thought and knowledge. It includes a cogent introduction, notes, and comprehensive bibliography.Trade ReviewThis is an excellent translation: readable, concise, lucid, and very representative of the Greek. --Richard Kraut, Northwestern University

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Book SynopsisThe third edition of The Trial and Death of Socrates presents G. M.A. Grube's distinguished translations, as revised by John Cooper for Plato, Complete Works. A number of new or expanded footnotes are also included along with a Select Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisPresents Grube's translations. This title includes a number of footnotes along with a bibliography.

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Book SynopsisIn his celebrated masterpiece, Symposium, Plato imagines a high-society dinner-party in Athens in 416 BC at which the guests - including the comic poet Aristophanes and, of course, Plato''s mentor Socrates - each deliver a short speech in praise of love. The sequence of dazzling speeches culminates in Socrates'' famous account of the views of Diotima, a prophetess who taught him that love is our means of trying to attain goodness. And then into the party bursts the drunken Alcibiades, the most popular and notorious Athenian of the time, who insists on praising Socrates himself rather than love, and gives us a brilliant sketch of this enigmatic character.The power, humour, and pathos of Plato''s creation engages the reader on every page. This new translation is complemented by full explanatory notes and an illuminating introduction. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volumTrade Review'In his lucid introduction Waterfield highlights the artistry and subtleties which might elude non-classicists. He emphasises that Plato's Symposium is fun.' Sophia Sackville-West, London Evening Standard

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Book SynopsisThis translation of Plato's classic work is published along with an extensive introductory essay, which situates the work in the context of the development of Greek science and discusses points of contemporary interest.Trade ReviewDonald Zeyl's fresh and faithful translation and his lucid, comprehensive commentary will bring the sublime Timaeus to life for contemporary students of cosmology, metaphysics, history of science, and philosophy. --Sarah Broadie, Princeton University

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Book Synopsis"This is a superb new translation that is remarkably accurate to Plato's very difficult Greek, yet clear and highly readable. The notes are more helpful than those in any other available translation of the Laws since they contain both the information needed by the beginning student as well as analytical notes that include references to the secondary literature for the more advanced reader. For either the beginner or the scholar, this should be the preferred translation."—Christopher Bobonich, Clarence Irving Lewis Professor of Philosophy, Stanford University

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Book SynopsisA translation that offers an introduction presenting both basic information and a sense of scholarly opinion.Trade ReviewA fantastic book. Translation is graceful and elegant yet uncannily accurate. Footnotes very useful, especially for teaching purposes, and the price is surprisingly low. --Eve Browning Cole, University of Minnesota

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Book SynopsisAlthough present-day (like ancient Greek) opinion on "the real Socrates" diverges widely, six classic texts that any informed judgment of him must take into account appear together, for the first time, in this volume.Trade ReviewAs good an introduction to the basic texts and to the historical and philosophical issues surrounding [Socrates] as can be provided today. --John Bulwer, The Joint Association of Classical Teachers ReviewAn excellent production; good, readable translations; helpful and reliable, but not intrusive supplementary material; and a very useful selection of texts. --Margaret Graver, Dartmouth CollegeIn virtue of their exceptional accuracy, neutrality, and readability, Reeve's translations of the Platonic texts in The Trials of Socrates are recommended (especially for the Greekless undergraduate) as a significant improvement over their predecessors. --Vernon Provencal, MouseionTable of ContentsContents: Plato, Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo (death scene); Aristophanes, Clouds; Xenophon, Apology of Socrates.

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Book SynopsisThis is an English translation of one of Plato's great dialogues of Socrates talking about death, dying, and the soul due to his impending execution. Included is an introduction and glossary of key terms. Focus Philosophical Library translations are close to and are non-interpretative of the original text, with the notes and a glossary intending to provide the reader with some sense of the terms and the concepts as they were understood by Plato''s immediate audience.

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Book SynopsisSet immediately prior to the trial and execution of Socrates in 399 BC, Theaetetus shows the great philosopher considering the nature of knowledge itself, in a debate with the geometrician Theodorus and his young follower Theaetetus. Their dialogue covers many questions, such as: is knowledge purely subjective, composed of the ever-changing flow of impressions we receive from the outside world? Is it better thought of as true belief? Or is it, as many modern philosophers argue, justified true belief, in which the belief is supported by argument or evidence? With skill and eloquence, Socrates guides the debate, drawing out the implications of these theories and subjecting them to merciless and mesmerising criticism. One of the founding works of epistemology, this profound discussion of the problem of knowledge continues to intrigue and inspire.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1Table of ContentsTheaetetus - Plato PrefaceMapTheaetetus EssayBibliography

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Book SynopsisPlato's finest dramatic work, an entertaining tale of goodness and knowledgeExploring the question of what exactly makes good people good, Protagoras and Meno are two of the most enjoyable and accessible of all of Plato's dialogues. Widely regarded as his finest dramatic work, the Protagoras, set during the golden age of Pericles, pits a youthful Socrates against the revered sophist Protagoras, whose brilliance and humanity make him one the most interesting and likeable of Socrates' philosophical opponents, and turns their encounter into a genuine and lively battle of minds. The Meno sees an older but ever ironic Socrates humbling a proud young aristocrat as they search for a clear understanding of what it is to be a good man, and setting out the startling idea that all human learning may be the recovery of knowledge already possessed by our immortal souls.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-spe

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Book SynopsisIn this dialogue Plato shows the pretensions of the leading sophist, Protagoras, challenged by the critical arguments of Socrates. The dialogue broadens out to consider the nature of the good life and the role of intellect and pleasure.

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