Great Dialogues of Plato

Overview

'He seemed to me to be the perfect example of goodness and happiness'

After the execution of Socrates in 399 BC, a number of his followers wrote dialogues featuring him as the protagonist and, in so doing, transformed the great philosopher into a legendary figure. Xenophon's portrait is the only one other than Plato's to survive, and while it offers a very personal interpretation of Socratic thought, it also reveals much about the man and his philosophical views. In 'Socrates' Defence' Xenophon defends his mentor against charges of arrogance made at his trial, while the 'Memoirs of Socrates' also starts with an impassioned plea for the rehabilitation of a wronged reputation. Along with 'The Estate-Manager', a practical economic treatise, and 'The Dinner-Party', a sparkling exploration of love, Xenophon's dialogues offer fascinating insights into the Socratic world and into the intellectual atmosphere and daily life of ancient Greece.

Xenophon's complete Socratic works are translated in this volume. In his introduction, Robin Waterfield illuminates the significance of these four books, showing how perfectly they embody the founding principles of Socratic thought.

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Author Information

Bio of Plato

( 427 BC - 347 BC), A Greek philosopher and prose writer, who is famous for the depth of his thought. Most of his work is in dialogue form and may have been intended for public performance. The prime speaker is nearly always Socrates. The dialogues fall into three groups. The best-known among the first group are: Ion, Euthyphro, Protagoras, orgies. The second group is considered to be written between 371 and 367 BC contains: Crito, Apology, Phaedo, Symposium. Finally the third group, considered to be philosophical and technically subtle contains: Theaetetus, Parmenides, Timaeus, Sophists, philebus.

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Additional Info

Imprint

Signet Classics

Filesize

3.20 MB

Number of Pages

656

eBook ISBN

9781436210959