Product Description

Esteemed for providing the best available translations, Philosophic Classics: From Plato to Derrida, features complete works or complete sections of the most important works by the major thinkers, as well as shorter samples from transitional thinkers.

First published in 1961, Forrest E. Baird's revision of Philosophic Classics, Pearson Education's long-standing anthology (available in split volumes), continues the tradition of providing generations of students with high quality course material. Using the complete works, or where appropriate, complete sections of works, this anthology allows philosophers to speak directly to students.  

For more information on the period volumes that are available please see below:

Philosophicl Classics, Volume I: Ancient Philosophy, 6/E  ISBN-10: 0205783856

Philosophicl Classics, Volume II: Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy, 6/E  ISBN-10: 0205783902

Philosophic Classics, Volume III: Modern Philosophy, 6/E  ISBN-10: 0205783899

Customer Reviews (4)

Philosophic Classics
There is a huge range of authors in this book, and it includes most of the main ideas from each original passage. It can be sort of hard to follow at times, however, as it leaves out giant parts of arguments, especially in The Republic. This really breaks down the flow of the piece and renders it much more confusing than the original book.

Philosophic Classics from Plato to Derida
Another master piece for your books shelf. This work is more in depth and delves into snippets of the various authors' works. We are assigned this book in a class for MTh. An excellent resource, a book shelf keeper.

Who thought philosophy would be fun??
Great study of major philosophies that have impacted our western culture.Very enjoyable and easy reading, yet stimulating and intellectual...Loved the book!

Excellent Introduction to Philosophy Text
If you teach Introduction to Philosophy using a historical approach, this is the text I recommend. I used "The Philosophic Classics 2nd edition, From Plato to Nietzsche" for my classes and was looking for a textwith the same basic works with some more contemporary materials. I find theupdated 3rd edition, "From Plato to Derrida" the perfectsolution. Instead of having to look through more textbooks for the rightstuff, this is it. ... Read more

Product Description
All philosophy is a footnote to Plato.No other person so shaped the Western world and the way we think about it.Plato’s questions remain as real for us today as they were 2500 years ago, and as human beings, we can not avoid their presence nor shirk our responsibility to attempt to answer them:What is Justice?What is Truth?What is Beauty?What kind of society should we build?How do we know what we know?Plato For Beginners introduces the reader to Socrates, Plato’s mentor whose martyrdomled Plato to formulate a new system of knowledge based on reason. Socrates was found guilty and sentenced to death for introducing other divinities.He was also found guilty of corrupting youth.
Plato For Beginners also covers the history of Greece as well as the life and ideas of this great philosopher and his influence over time, from early Christianity to the 20th century.The reader learns what he meant by Truth, Beauty, and the Good.Classical dialogues such as Symposium, Phaedo, The Apology and The Republic are all explored in the context of his time and our own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Concise overview of Plato
This concise overview is an easy introduction to Plato, highlighting his Theory of Forms and political ideals.The mini-book does it in the context of the times, explaining Greek history along the way.While many claim, "All of philosophy is a footnote to Plato", the book does justice to post-Greek philosophy, highlighting where Plato's logic lead him wrong.

The book isn't in depth, but it never was intended to be.It's a great 1-2 hour read for those (like this reader) who want an introduction to the great thinker.

First-Class Introduction to Plato
This terrific book is a light and easy read, but contains more information about Plato than I've learned in any other introductory philosophy book.(Did you know that at one point in his life, Plato was taken prisoner by pirates and sold as a slave?)The explanation of The Forms is more clear than I've seen elsewhere.

The book starts with background information on Greek culture and the life of Socrates.Then comes a biographical account of Plato's life, works and travels.Interspersed are summaries of some of his major works, including The Thaetetus, The Phaedrus, The Symposium, The Republic, The Timaeus, and The Laws.

Highly recommended for neophytes!

You always end up back at Plato....
I guess you get out of this book what you bring to it. Having already been familiar with most of Plato's teachings, as well as his times, I found this volume to be a delightful refresher course. Instead of a dry, condensed outline it is a humorous and original comprehensive overview. Cavalier obviously knows his dialogs- I found no "dumbing down" here.

Those teachers of mine that stressed that if one wanted to be "truly educated" one had to be familiar with Plato's teachings were absolutely correct. When you start digging into subjects of true and lasting worth you always end up back at Plato. When I was younger I would have laughed at the idea that some "dry as dust" Greek philosopher could ever be meaningful to me. You see, I confused Plato's philosophy with the "dry as dust" approach that passes for philosophy in modern times. Plato himself not only asked what Truth, Justice, and Beauty were- he actually came to know that they really existed as Ultimates. The same with Good- he knew it existed. Plato accepted the validity of omens, dreams, the Mysteries, and the pre-existence of the human soul, as well as, an afterlife. It was Plato who gave us the concept of "heaven." In fact, if you examine the words that were put in Christ's mouth in the New Testament you find that every statement is a paraphrase of Plato.

As for political matters, Plato believed that concern over one's own wealth and power was the source of most conflict, and that the goal of any system of laws and government should be making all people as happy and friendly as possible- and not merely a privileged elite.

I can't help but speculate on how different western culture would have been if Plato's undiluted teachings, or even Plotinus' neoplatonism, had been the real spiritual core of our civilization.

Negativity Stinks!
Like other "for Beginner" books, the Plato version is also an excellent and concise overview for those who want a quick read. Illustrations aren't anything to marvel at, but they do make for a more interesting book. Despite the negative criticism in other reviews (such as that posed by the Seattle reader,) I recommend the book highly. As for spelling mistakes, that is easily explained because it is meant foremost for a British audience where words such as center are spelled centre. No big deal. TLC

Hardly worth the money or effort!
This book was so poorly organized! I didn't find what I was looking for, and the "illustrations" are Xerox copies of maps or sculpture pictures. The sentences were boring, and there were spelling andpunctuation errors. Overall, the information could have been presented in amuch more concise and effective way. ... Read more

Product Description

Plato, the great philosopher of Athens, was born in 427 BCE. In early manhood an admirer of Socrates, he later founded the famous school of philosophy in the grove Academus. Much else recorded of his life is uncertain; that he left Athens for a time after Socrates' execution is probable; that later he went to Cyrene, Egypt, and Sicily is possible; that he was wealthy is likely; that he was critical of 'advanced' democracy is obvious. He lived to be 80 years old. Linguistic tests including those of computer science still try to establish the order of his extant philosophical dialogues, written in splendid prose and revealing Socrates' mind fused with Plato's thought.

In Laches, Charmides, and Lysis, Socrates and others discuss separate ethical conceptions. Protagoras, Ion, and Meno discuss whether righteousness can be taught. In Gorgias, Socrates is estranged from his city's thought, and his fate is impending. The Apology (not a dialogue), Crito, Euthyphro, and the unforgettable Phaedo relate the trial and death of Socrates and propound the immortality of the soul. In the famous Symposium and Phaedrus, written when Socrates was still alive, we find the origin and meaning of love. Cratylus discusses the nature of language. The great masterpiece in ten books, the Republic, concerns righteousness (and involves education, equality of the sexes, the structure of society, and abolition of slavery). Of the six so-called dialectical dialogues Euthydemus deals with philosophy; metaphysical Parmenides is about general concepts and absolute being; Theaetetus reasons about the theory of knowledge. Of its sequels, Sophist deals with not-being; Politicus with good and bad statesmanship and governments; Philebus with what is good. The Timaeus seeks the origin of the visible universe out of abstract geometrical elements. The unfinished Critias treats of lost Atlantis. Unfinished also is Plato's last work of the twelve books of Laws (Socrates is absent from it), a critical discussion of principles of law which Plato thought the Greeks might accept.

The Loeb Classical Library edition of Plato is in twelve volumes.

Customer Reviews (2)

The classical Greek search for the virtue of courage
I read this book for a graduate philosophy class.The classical Greek philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were the midwives of Western civilization's "birth" of philosophy.Prior to the fifth century BCE classical Greek period, Greek citizens learned about virtuous actions including courage through their mythical religious beliefs, and epic poetry; such as, Homer's Iliad and The Odyssey.Thus, not until Socrates asks the question of what does the "good life" consists of do people ponder with reason and logic as their guide what constitutes virtues and how to practice them.Plato, like Socrates before him and Aristotle after him, believes in a virtue-based code of ethics where the end goal is to attain "happiness" which is understood by the classical Greeks as a flourishing" and is obtained only by performing virtuous acts.

Plato's short dialogue Laches is his literary vehicle to show Socrates exploring the virtue of courage.Socrates questions two famous Greek generals, Nicias and Laches, who participated in the Peloponnesian War, as did Socrates, in order to get at a definition of courage.The virtue of courage figures prominently in the second half of Plato's dialogue when Socrates asks both generals to define courage.It is important to note that though Socrates is the first philosopher to embark upon a search for a definition of virtue, he did not write his philosophy down.All of what we know of Socrates' teachings comes from the pen of Plato, one of his most devoted students.Laches first defines courage for Socrates by providing him three components of courage.A courageous person is "willing," "stands their ground in the face of the enemy," and "does not run."Laches' three components of courage are really just examples of the time-honored duty of Greek patriotism, which is derived out of a feeling or emotional attachment to one's country.In essence, the Greek citizen is "willing" to act out of a sense of duty to their city; "standing their ground" to protect their city from enemy attack.The citizen "does not run" in fear for their lives risking the safety of their city.Essentially, Plato's summation of these three components as spoken by Laches, is that courage comes from an "endurance of the soul."(p 34, (192c).Up to this point in the dialogue, Plato's definition of courage does not differ from the standard Homeric definition.However, when Socrates continues his questioning of Laches, he expands the scope of courageous actions to encompass perils of illness, sea travel and even into the political realm in hopes of better defining courage.Thus, Plato recognizes that there is a host of situations that requires a person to use courage to surmount whatever dangerous predicament they face.By posing the question this way, Plato through Socrates assumes that there is something else that people rely on to make them courageous.This is the real crux of the dialogue; to find out what else there is in the human condition that instills one with courage.

To accomplish this task, Plato introduces Nicias into the dialogue, who introduces the idea that it takes an amalgamation of emotions and wisdom for courage to be a universal virtue.With the introduction of wisdom into the mix, courage takes its "first step" forward from the heroic Homeric notion.For example, in the Homeric epics only aristocrats are depicted as acting courageously.It is important to recognize that by introducing these other hardships not related to war fighting, Plato is moving away from the ancient Greek Homeric model that so dominated the culture of his day.Nicias answers Laches, "Therefore, if a man is really courageous, it is clear that he is wise."(p, 38, (194d).However, when Socrates presses Nicias to explain what type of wisdom makes a person wise enough to be courageous he answers, "...it is the knowledge of the fearful and the hopeful in war and every other situation."(p, 39, (195a).Socrates is incredulous that Nicias argues that only people who can foretell future goods and evils will be able to act courageously, and for this reason, Socrates rejects Nicias' definition of courage.Socrates ends the dialogue abruptly because he sees that he is only getting examples of acts of courage in his questioning.His goal is to get to a definition, and to understand the essence of courage.With a definition, he can compare all examples of courage to it and then decide if the examples are truly acts of courage or not.In most of Plato's dialogues involving Socrates, his quest for a definition of a particular virtue ends in the same manner.At this point as in so many of Plato's dialogues, he ends his search for a definition of courage, but he takes it up again several years later in his Republic where he will introduce the element of education into the mix.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in virtue ethics, Greek philosophy, and military history.

Another useful volume in an excellent series
Like most volumes in the Loeb series, the emphasis is not on word-for-word precision in the translation, but on acheiving greater readability in broader terms. Since the original text in ancient Greek is provided on the facing page, the editors assume that anyone with a little knowledge of Greek can supplement the looseness of the translation by referring to the original. And in general, the compromises made in this way are good ones throughout the series. In this case, Lamb's translation remains sufficiently faithful to the original, especially in his Protagoras and Meno, to allow this volume to be used by the serious scholar. ... Read more

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We are still working on filling in the product descriptions. If you need more information please call or email us. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Great philosophy book and perfect for a christian teaching
This book combines philosophy and christianity perfectly.I higly reccommend it as a teaching tool or enjoyment reading.

Excellent philosophy primer and intro to Socrates!
Kreeft's book is an excellent philosophy primer that anyone can enjoy, easily read, and benefit from.As a huge fan of Socrates, I was enthralled with the use of Plato's "Apology", the "Euthyphro", and the "Phaedo" as a teaching tools that will captivate your imagination and search your soul.You can really feel Socrates probing you, making you ask questions of and about yourself, profound questions, that everyone needs to confront and be confronted by.Everyone should apply the Socratic Method to their own life...it will change it forever!

This book is an easy read and you should purchase a copy, take it with you everywhere, and read every chance you get.When you finish, READ IT AGAIN!!!Let Socrates teach you that what you think you know, you really don't know.The unexamined life is truly not worth living.Let Socrates examine you and then you too will live life more fully...by asking good questions about everything.Take nothing for granted or on surface value; probe, probe, probe!

This book would be a great tool for informal chats re philosophy, psychology, religion, or even just for fun.I highly recommend it...no matter your chosen faith or the lack thereof.But get ready to be challenged!

Yes, Buy It and Read It Passionately
Peter Kreeft transmits his passion for wisdom, for philosophy, in this small book by focusing on the personification of philosophy: Socrates. Kreeft shows us how the pursuit of wisdom will lead to respectful confrontation with those who do not know but think they know. The Socratic method of respectful cross-examination is at the core of exposing the fallacies of those, as someone once said, who are always certain but seldom right. Kreeft also presents the parallels between Socrates and Jesus. You will enjoy and be inspired by this celebration of the passionate pursuit of philosophy.

Socrates from a Christian prospective
Peter Kreeft introduces Philosophy by introducing us to the father of philosophy, Socrates. He uses the Apology of Socrates to give 40 descriptions of philosophy. He shows the paradox of philosophy with such terms as foolish, simplistic and conformist. Throughout the book, Kreeft's Christian perspective comes through with comparisons of Socrates and Christ, which I think give the book a unique niche but I sure will offend some.

Introducing philosophy
Peter Kreeft has taught philosophy for over forty years. He is also a Christian. So what does philosophy have to do with Christianity? Or as Tertullian put it long ago, what does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?

Well quite a bit really, according to Kreeft. For example, both are, or should be, concerned with truth, or the discovery of truth. Both are concerned about going beyond appearances and getting at reality.

Thus Kreeft thinks philosophy, properly understood and practiced, can be a real aid to the believer. This book is an introductory primer to philosophy, or more specifically, to doing philosophy. Kreeft thinks that Plato/Socrates may have been our greatest philosopher, and his works make for an excellent entry point to philosophy. (Kreeft side-steps the historical debate over Socrates, and for his/our purposes, we will simply speak of Socrates.)

Three dialogues that exemplify Socrates' method and manner are here focused on: the Apology of Socrates, the Euthyphro, and the Phaedo. Kreeft enjoys using these dialogues as they do not just talk about philosophy but they actually show us philosophy in action.

The Apology is the main text focused on. In it Kreeft tells us forty different things about philosophy and the philosophical method. As we all know, philosophy is the love of wisdom. It differs from mere knowledge, and God is its source. While God has wisdom, man pursues it. In this Socrates and biblical religion are on common ground.

Moreover, the quest of philosophy is not for truth as found in the physical sciences, but moral and eternal truths, as found in religion. Moral questions, like "What is justice?" cannot be answered by the physical sciences.

Also, belief in God and the really important things in life goes hand in hand with humility. Socrates stressed this, as do many of the great religions. Skepticism about God tends to correlate with pride, while true wisdom recognizes its limits, and is open to truth outside its limited perceptions.

And Socrates, like Jesus, was a real counter-culturalist. Indeed, both men were hated by many because of their challenges to the status quo. Indeed, both were ultimately put to death.

Of course in all this Kreeft does not equate the two great men. Socrates could only claim to be a seeker after truth, while Jesus claimed to be the truth.

A key issue raised in the Euthyphro is the connection between God and goodness. Can we be good without God? The two options presented are, 1) that God chooses what is good (Euthyphro's position), and 2) that God is subject to what is good (Socrates' position). Of course Christians tend to say that this is a false dilemma, and argue for a third position, that God's goodness is coterminous with his nature. Position one seems to make God arbitrary, and position two seems to make goodness greater than God. But the third option fully equates goodness with God. What God commands is good because it is in accord with his own good nature.

The last work examined, the Phaedo, is the story of the death of Socrates. It is also the argument of Socrates for why life extends beyond the grave, for why the soul is immortal.

The "gadfly of Athens" was put to death for his search for truth. Of course Jesus was put to death for his proclamation of truth. To refer to the earlier discussion about historicity, Kreeft reminds us that while Christianity cannot survive without Christ, philosophy can survive without an historical Socrates. Even if he is just the creation of Plato's pen, his timeless truths live on.

It was Alfred North Whitehead who once said that the European philosophical tradition "consists of a series of footnotes to Plato." No one can improve upon the greatness of Plato/Socrates. His greatness and wisdom live on. Thus there is so much we can learn from Socrates, so much we are indebted to.

He is not the equivalent of Christ, but he bears many similarities, as Kreeft points out throughout this book. And there are real shortcomings to Socrates. His insistence on the importance of the soul was as valuable as his denial of the importance of the body was flawed.

Believers need not be ashamed of nor afraid of philosophy. In its proper form, it leads us to truth. And in the Christian tradition, God is truth. Of course in a fallen world, extrnal revelation is needed to supplement internal inquiry.

But is it possible that God can use pre-Christians like Socrates to teach us much about life and even Himself? Kreeft thinks so, and this book goes a long way in showing Christians how to appreciate the beauties of philosophy. Of course in other books in this series, Kreeft shows the dark side of reckless philosophy (as in his discussions about Sartre and Marx). But here we learn of the good purposes which philosophy can serve.
... Read more

Product Description
Considered to be one of the three greatest philosophical tomes of all time, The Republic is Plato's account and interpretation of Socrates's ideas about life, meaning, and the just society. This text has provoked and shaped thought for thousands of years and is as applicable now as it ever was. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

BUY IT NOW!!
I was having trouble interpreting Plato's The Republic, this book has been tremendously helpful. If you are having the same problem then get this book now!!

Excellent guide, learned a lot
I found this to be a clear, concise, and well written quide to understanding this venerable work. The author covers many topics, from the social and historical context of the work to the more abstract philosophical ideas. It helped me to better appreciate this important work and I learned a lot that was valuable and even useful.

I had a few comments myself to make. There might now be much I can add in a scholarly vein to what people have already said about Plato. But I thought I would make a few personal observations from the standpoint of a somewhat philosophically literate, 21st century man who is reading such an august classic in middle age.

I came to this book with more of a background in modern epistemology and the philosophy of science than in classical philosophy. So political philosophy isn't exactly my strong suit, but nevertheless I found the book interesting reading in a way I hadn't really thought of before.

Actually, I had read portions of this book 20 years ago when I was a young student first studying philosophy, and I have to say, there is something to be said for having a more mature outlook in approaching such a venerable work. At the time I thought political philosophy pretty dull stuff, and besides, I felt there was no real way to answer any of the important political questions that get debated here, despite the easy way Socrates disposes of everybody else's half-baked opinions and theories.

The fact is, if you move ahead 2400 years and read something like Karl Popper's "The Open Society and Its Enemies," an advanced modern work, you can see how much, or how little, political philosophy has progressed in the last 24 centuries.

Well, that may be true, but at least with this book you know where it basically all started. The best way to decide this issue is to read the book and decide for yourself.

Although entitled "The Republic," this society isn't like any republic you've probably ever read about. Plato proposes an ant- like communism where there is no private ownership of property, philosophers are kings, kings are philosophers, people cultivate physical, moral, and ethical qualities, and the idea of the good takes the place of political and social virtues.

Another odd facet is that the bravest citizens are permitted more wives than those less brave in battle. And then there is the infamous proposition that all poets and artists are to be banished since they are harmful purveyors of false illusions.

I find the Socratic method as a way of moving along the dialogue between the participants sort of interesting, and it is certainly an effective device. However, none of these people, even the famous Sophist Thrasymachus, are really Socrates' intellectual equal, so he really doesn't have much competition here.

(Cheap shot from the "Peanut Gallery"--not to digress too much, here, but if Socrates was supposed to be so wise, how come he married such a shrewish woman for a wife, Xantippe? They joked about how funny and incongruous that was even in Socrates's day).

If ancient Athens disproportionately had so many towering intellects, relative to its small population (about 20,000 people, most of whom were slaves anyway), you'd think they would show up in Plato's dialogues more. But all we seem to get are second- raters who are really no match for the clever Socrates. Of course, since the dialogues we have were written down by Socrates' most famous student, Plato, perhaps the cards were stacked a little in his teacher's favor.

Yet I would say this is still a great book. Classical scholars say there are more perfect, less flawed dialogues than Plato's Republic, but none that are as profound, wide-ranging, and as influential and important for later philosophy. As someone once wrote, in a sense the entire history of western philosophy "consists of nothing but footnotes to Plato." After finally reading it, I can see why there is so much truth to that statement.

I also had a brief comment to make on Plato's theory of justice.

Early on in the book there is the famous exchange between Socrates and the Sophist, Thrasymachus. Socrates asks him for his definition of Justice, and Thasymachus responds that "Justice is the interest of the stronger."

Socrates then uses his famous eponymous method to seemingly demolish the Sophist's position, and then presents his own view instead.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Thrasymachus here, if only on practical and historical grounds. Justice usually is the interest of the stronger. Perhaps this is not what Justice should be in human and social terms, but that's the reality.

Socrates' definition is a nice ideal, but rarely works out that way in practice. If one thinks of Thrasymachus' definition as simply pragmatic and realistic, and Socrates' definition as being the ideal that a true republic (or whatever society) should strive for, then I think this is a more accurate view of the situation. Socrates makes Thrasymachus' idea appear invalid, but in fact, his idea is more accurate in terms of how things actually work out in most parts of the world (and even in the US) than is Socrates' idea.

Not that this is right or even desirable, it's just the way things are.

A MUST HAVE!The only way to trudge through the Republic!
For college students, this book is a godsend.It lays out in common English basically everything that Plato and Socrates say in The Republic.Some of the most famous things from The Republic, including the Noble Lie,the Ship of State, and the Allegory of the Cave are put into layman'sterms, making those papers and homework questions relatively easy to write. If you are a student, or are reading The Republic for fun, you have tohave this book. ... Read more

Product Description
A Plato Primer introduces students and general readers to the main theses, concepts, and arguments in Platos philosophy. Platos thoughtsubtle, versatile, and multifacetedextends over many decades of composition and many philosophical topics, making it difficult to distill. J. D. G. Evans overcomes this challenge by starting from the premise that there is a core to Platos philosophy that can be traced through the spectrum of his writings. He opens with a chapter on the Republic, Platos major work; he then singles out a particular theme from the Republic for treatment in each of the six subsequent chapters. These themes, which correspond to modern philosophical categories (Knowledge, Reality, Dialectic, Value, Causality and Change, Politics), enable Evans to bring other Platonic works into his discussion.Featuring a useful Further Reading section for those wishing to pursue given topics in the secondary literature, A Plato Primer is a wide-ranging and compelling analysis of the original philosophical personality shining through the body of Platos writings. ... Read more

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Timothy ChappellÂ’s new translation of the Theaetetus is presented here in short sections of text, each preceded by a summary of the argument and followed by his philosophical commentary on it. Introductory remarks discuss Plato and his works, his use of dialogue, the structure of the Theaetetus, and alternative interpretations of the work as a whole. A glossary and bibliography are provided. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Insightful analysis
I am not a Plato scholar (at least not yet) so I bought this book hoping it would provide me with a detailed explanation of one of my favorite Platonic dialogues, the Theaetetus.After reading and re-reading this book I have to say it provided what I expected and then some.I would recommend this book to anyone who has read the Theaetetus and is looking for a scholarly examination of that dialogue -- but don't expect an easy read.Chappell's discussion is complex in its own right and requires careful study.Anyone who gets to the point where they want to read this kind of book should expect it to be complex.Chappell does afford guides within the text to assist more casual readers to navigate more easily through it.I do feel as though I have a much more insightful understanding of the Theaetetus and can more easily discuss and debate the main issues of the dialogue in my philosophy classes.I assume that is what motivated him to write it in the first place and so, therefore, it is successful in its intent. ... Read more

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Gorgias written by legendary Greek Philosopher Plato is widely considered to be one of his best Socratic dialogues of all time. This great classic will surely attract a whole new generation of readers. For many, Gorgias is required reading for various courses and curriculums. And for others who simply enjoy reading timeless pieces of classic literature, this gem by Plato is highly recommended. Published by Classic Books America and beautifully produced, Gorgias would make an ideal gift and it should be a part of everyone's personal library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Wonderful English translation of the Gorgias
I assigned this to my political theory students last year, and learned what a fine job Arieti and Barrus have done.There are several other good translations out there; this one is more literal, but it makes good English sense nevertheless ("graspingness" and a few other awkward choices notwithstanding).

The great value of this edition, however, is the insightful scholarly introduction, the very helpful footnotes, the three appendices, and the glossary.The first appendix includes speeches from Thucydides which are relevant to the arguments about rhetoric from the Gorgias.The second one is an outline of the rhetorical principles laid out by the interloculotrs of the Gorgias, and the third is a short discussion of Socrates' use of the terms mythos and logos.The best thing in editorial materials, however, is the glossary, which offers extended scholarly explanations of key terms in the Gorgias and in Platonic philosophy generally.

On the downside: The translators have tried to show all the moving parts, as it were, of their work with the Greek text.So when they've supplied an English word not directly translated from a Greek word, they've put it in brackets.Some versions of the Bible do this as well.But the brackets are frequent and can get quite distacting at times, especially fro my undergrads I imagine.A more general concern with this choice would be: If you read Greek, you don't need Barrus and Arieti to tell you which words are direct translations and which aren't.But if you don't know Greek, you don't know what to do with this information, because you don't understand how the Greek sentence gets a long without these extra words.So it's seems like a pointless practice.Translate!And then when the readers learn Greek they can take a look at how you've done it.

Overall: a very impressive work, from two very careful and insightful readers and translators of Plato.

The Gorgias Done Right

Anyone interested in political science, Ancient Greek Thought, or Plato will want to read the Gorgias, so I will not presume to argue why it should be read, save thus: if you wish to be educated, you need books of this caliber.

Translation: Arieti and Barrus have done a conservative, literal job in giving us English for Plato's Greek, and thus there is much to praise. Occasionally the literalness seems excessive, as when they routinely insert bracketed phrases not literally present in the Greek, but I have no major complaints. Plato's style is polished and playful; the translators point out various places where he puns on different words or cracks jokes. Included in this translation are rhetorical examples taken from Thucydides; very illuminating.

Aesthetics: A pretty book. The text is well-sized and the index is helpful. The size is perfect for casual reading, for it's lightweight and compact.

Durability. As with most Focus books, quite durable. I treat my books (especially paperbacks) with kid gloves, and if you do the same it will remain in pristine condition, but it could stand up to a far greater abuse than it does under me.

Price: Quite cheap and competitive with Nichol's translation. You will get a lot of book for your buck if you buy it.

Plato: Gorgias
This is a basic text when studying the theory of composition.It is tedious times, but explains rhetoric in the form of a play with Socrates as a main character.Not a light read but definately worth its weight in proverbial gold. ... Read more

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Benjamin Jowett's translations of Plato have long been classics in their own right. In this volume, Professor Hayden Pelliccia has revised Jowett's renderings of five key dialogues, giving us a modern Plato faithful to both Jowett's best features and Plato's own masterly style.

Gathered here are many of Plato's liveliest and richest texts. Ion takes up the question of poetry and introduces the Socratic method. Protagoras discusses poetic interpretation and shows why cross-examination is the best way to get at the truth. Phaedrus takes on the nature of rhetoric, psychology, and love, as does the famous Symposium. Finally, Apology gives us Socrates' art of persuasion put to the ultimate test--defending his own life.

Pelliccia's new Introduction to this volume clarifies its contents and addresses the challenges of translating Plato freshly and accurately. In its combination of accessibility and depth, Selected Dialogues of Plato is the ideal introduction to one of the key thinkers of all time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very well done translation
The review criticizing Jowett's translation of the Republic is irrelevant for two reasons.First, this isn't the Republic.Second, it's not really Jowett's translation: it's a substantial revision of Jowett's translation of some of Plato's most widely read dialogues (Ion, Phaedrus, Symposium, Apology, Protagoras).

Simply put, though I'm no fit judge of the translation's fidelity to Plato, I found this to be the most fluid, delightful rendering of Plato that I've ever come across.It is a masterpiece of literary nuance -- representing Socrates as the witty, weird, sometimes obnoxious, often poetic soul he must have been.Of course this is greatly due to Jowett's lovely prose style, but Pelliccia deserves laurels for so sensitively updating and de-Victorianizing the work.I've compared this revision to Jowett's original and find this to be much improved.Snap it up.

Not a good translation
The Jowett translation of "Republic" is not good.I struggled with it in college [in the '60s], and never knew why it was such a chore until I read Allan Bloom's great translation, and his introduction to his great translation.John Wild explained further why the Jowett translation is so "off," in his "Plato and His Enemies and the Theory of Natural Law" -- which is, unfortunately, out of print.But go for Bloom's translation, it is wonderful.

Very Enlightening
Great piece of philosophical literature. Well annotated and translated. Excellent, 5 stars ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Translation, Great Commentary
It would be good first to clear up a confusion which is actually encouraged by Amazon.There are two distinct editions of Taylor's translation of & commentary on the Protagoras:One is the "World's Classics" edition, first published in 1996 and reissued in 2002; the other is the "Clarendon Plato" edition, first published in 1976 and republished in 1991 with significant revisions and additional material.The Clarendon Plato edition is the longer, more scholarly version, while the World's Classics edition is the one evidently intended for a wider audience, particularly the 21st-century college student.Although I haven't thoroughly compared the translations of the two word-for-word, I suspect that the translations are virtually the same.However, the *commentaries* of the two are quite different, the Clarendon Plato edition's Commentary being much longer and detailed and more scholarly (162 pages) than the World's Classic edition's Explanatory Notes (15 pages); the latter are presumeably a substantially abbreviated version of the former, with many omissions.This is obviously the major difference between the two editions.The Clarendon edition is far superior, but is probably prohibitively expensive for most readers (unless they can find a used copy).

The problem is that Amazon confuses the editions by listing the Customer Reviews for one edition in the Customer Reviews of the other, and by using the World's Classics edition when you "Search Inside" the Clarendon Plato edition.

On to my "review":Christopher Taylor is a Plato scholar second to none.His explanatory notes and especially his commentary are well worth consulting.The Commentary in the Clarendon Plato edition is unsurpassed in modern Plato scholarship.

His translation, though not absolutely literal, does not go too far in "modernizing" Plato's text either (as a previous reviewer suggests).To his credit, Taylor has taken some pains to ensure that key philosophical terms are translated consistently.

Since Amazon's Search function isn't always helpful, here are links to the two editions:
World's Classics - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0192804014
Clarendon Plato - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0198239343

Ugh
The most outstanding thing about this book is the translation.Absolutely horrific.The author seems to have tried to modernize the language so it would be accessible to a wider reading audience.Probably an audience of ghetto high school students since charaters are saying things like "What's up?", "It's pretty obvious", and "I guess so."This translation is not worth buying for personal reading, nor is it appropriate to college courses.

That said, the 27 page introduction is quite good and worth reading.It should have been published as a separate essay. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an OCR edition without illustrations or index. It may have numerous typos or missing text. However, purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original rare book from GeneralBooksClub.com. You can also preview excerpts from the book there. Purchasers are also entitled to a free trial membership in the General Books Club where they can select from more than a million books without charge. Volume: 4; Original Published by: Harper & Bros in 1914 in 501 pages; Subjects: Literary Criticism / Ancient & Classical; Philosophy / General; Philosophy / History & Surveys / Ancient & Classical; ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

excellent shape
better than i expected considering it was a penny. through this book i learned more about how powerful philosophy can be than in my intro to philosophy course

The Socratic method is still valid.
This Bantam Classics edition presents, through translations by different sources, eight of Plato's "early" dialogues, all involving Socrates, his apotheosized master.Written in the form of question-and-answer sessions, these dialogues profile a man in a continuous quest for the truth, even when he is awaiting his execution, and demonstrate a particular system of gathering information and building knowledge, a system that is nothing less than the foundation of Western thought.

The oracle at Delphi stated that Socrates was the wisest of men because he knew that his wisdom was paltry -- unlike the Sophists, who not only thought they could teach things like virtue and "excellence" to the youth of Athens but also charged money for their tutelage.Since Socrates admits to knowing nothing, he gains all his knowledge through inquiry, deferring to his interlocutors' presumed knowledge, often using sarcasm with the Sophists.His questions commonly use logic of the form "If A is the same as B and B is the opposite of C, isn't A the opposite of C?"

Socrates saw himself as a "gadfly" to Athenian society, always seeking truth -- an absolute truth, as opposed to the moral relativism taught by the Sophists and practiced by the Athenians.His basic interest was inquiring of the way a man should live his life, one conclusion being that to suffer is better than to cause suffering, since the immortal soul is judged constantly by the gods.

Some of the arguments might seem specious to the modern reader, but the importance of reading the dialogues is not necessarily to agree with any particular argument presented but to observe an intensely systematic and organized method of gaining knowledge through interrogatory dialogue.First-hand experience tells me that asking and answering questions is a better way to learn than listening to a one-sided lecture, and reading Plato's Socratic recollections confirms my opinion.

A must read for logically-challenged Liberals!
Unfortunately, the public school system of America has eradicated all courses relative to developing a student's ability to reason, and reason well.Rhetoric,and the 'Socratic Method' were essential parts of a collegiate student's curriculum in medieval Europe, and the universities of America would not be remiss in re-introducing this dynamic type of verbal intercourse today.

inadequate description, translation
The pleasure of Plato is as much from his literary as from his philosophical acumen. The choice of the public-domain Jowett translation is unhappy for bringing out the literary merit of the original. This Victorian prose, while usually competent as translation, does not ring true to the original and certainly does nothing for the late 20th century American ear. One wonders why the set is so expensive when the translation was had for nothing. And why doesn't Amazon print the contents of these cassettes in their bibliographical information. Does one have to buy the set to find out exactly what its contents are>

Simply Wonderful!
Plato's work is brilliant!Socrates was the greatest philosopher of all time, and reading about his wisdom and virtue is absolutely moving.Socrates is such an inspiration to the world, and this book should be required reading for all human beings to teach them how to be truly good people.Socrates is my role model, and this book is absolutely wonderful in showing the incredible wisdom of this divine man. ... Read more

Product Description
English translation with introduction and glossary. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Battle of Gods and Giants
For many, this dialogue represents the culmination of Platonic thought. Theatetus and the Eleatic stranger announce a program of determination of the function and essence of the Sophist. They proceed by way of dialectical bifurcation; in a way this text is about the process of bifurcation itself. We are left with little to think about the Sophist in positive terms. Rather, we are left with the essence of sophistry as a kind of semblance-the sophist creates the impression of true knowledge. However, at the heart of this text is a metaphysical questioning of the meaning of being itself: "Then clarify this for us, since we're confused by it. What do you want to signify when you say being? Obviously you've known for a long time. We thought we did, but now we're confused about it." This brief problematic would of course find itself as the opening quotation of Heidegger's Being and Time. The Sophist remains one of the most crucial and mysterious of all metaphysical texts.

Plato's The Sophist
Recommended for anyone who wants to study philosophy. The introduction is just wonderful.It facilitates the undertanding of the text.It is worth buying,

Good translation
This is a very good translation for people reading the Sophist for the first time.The language is accessible (as much as it can be considering that this is one of the most difficult dialogues).Other translations of the dialogue are either written in archaic English or have other purposes.Benardete's is excellent, but it is for studying, not reading.

The introduction also gives a very nice outline of the dialogue. ... Read more

Product Description
These four dialogues cover time surrounding the execution of Socrates. As he was charged, tried, and condemned to death, the four dialogues stand as final testaments to his credo of virtue. These are texts that have shaped thousands of years of thought on the meaning of life and personal conduct. ... Read more

Product Description
This exceptional book examines and explains Plato's answer to the normative question, "How ought we to live?"It discusses Plato's conception of the virtues; his views about the connection between the virtues and happiness; and the account of reason, desire, and motivation that underlies his arguments about the virtues. Plato's answer to the epistemological question, "How can we know how we ought to live?" is also discussed. His views on knowledge, belief, and inquiry, and his theory of Forms, are examined, insofar as they are relevant to his ethical view. Terence Irwin traces the development of Plato's moral philosophy, from the Socratic dialogues to its fullest exposition in the Republic. Plato's Ethics discusses Plato's reasons for abandoning or modifying some aspects of Socratic ethics, and for believing that he preserves Socrates' essential insights. A brief and selective discussion of the Statesmen, Philebus, and Laws is included. Replacing Irwin's earlier Plato's Moral Theory (Oxford, 1977), this book gives a clearer and fuller account of the main questions and discusses some recent controversies in the interpretation of Plato's ethics. It does not presuppose any knowledge of Greek or any extensive knowledge of Plato. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Plato's Ethics
Very good book on Plato.Good insights and explanation of his ethics, if looking for a secondary book with which to study Plato.Good for any college work or personal interest. ... Read more

Product Description
A model of accuracy and fluency, Christopher Rowe's translation of Statesman-as modified for publication in Plato, Complete Works (Hackett, 1997)-is now available in a student edition, with a brief introduction, notes, and a select bibliography. ... Read more

Product Description
This series aims to bring together important recent writing in major areas of philosophical inquiry, selected from a variety of sources. The editor of each volume contributes an introductory essay on the items chosen and on the questions with which they deal. A selective bibliography is appended as a guide to further reading. ... Read more

Product Description
This innovative study sees the relationship between Athens and Jerusalem through the lens of the Platonic dialogues and the Talmud. Howland argues that these texts are animated by comparable conceptions of the proper roles of inquiry and reasoned debate in religious life, and by a profound awareness of the limits of our understanding of things divine. Insightful readings of Plato's Apology, Euthyphro, and chapter three of tractate Ta'anit explore the relationship of prophets and philosophers, fathers and sons, and gods and men (among other themes), bringing to light the tension between rational inquiry and faith that is essential to the speeches and deeds of both Socrates and the Talmudic sages. In reflecting on the pedagogy of these texts, Howland shows in detail how Talmudic aggadah and Platonic drama and narrative speak to different sorts of readers in seeking mimetically to convey the living ethos of rabbinic Judaism and Socratic philosophizing. ... Read more