Plato
1) The Republic
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Plato's most famous work and the bedrock of Western philosophy
Written in the form of a Socratic dialogue, The Republic is an investigation into the nature of an ideal society. In this far-reaching and profoundly influential treatise, Plato explores the concept of justice, the connection between politics and psychology, the difference between words and what they represent, and the roles of art and education, among many other topics....
Written in the form of a Socratic dialogue, The Republic is an investigation into the nature of an ideal society. In this far-reaching and profoundly influential treatise, Plato explores the concept of justice, the connection between politics and psychology, the difference between words and what they represent, and the roles of art and education, among many other topics....
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The perfect books for the true book lover, Penguin's Great Ideas series features twelve more groundbreaking works by some of history's most prodigious thinkers. Each volume is beautifully packaged with a unique type-driven design that highlights the bookmaker's art. Offering great literature in great packages at great prices, this series is ideal for those readers who want to explore and savor the Great Ideas that have shaped our world.
Plato's
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Socrates spent a lifetime analysing ethical issues, and the Euthyphro finds him outside the court-house, still debating the nature of piety with an arrogant acquaintance. The Apology is both a robust rebuttal to the charges of impiety and corrupting young minds and a definitive defence of the philosopher's life. Later, condemned and imprisoned in the Crito, Socrates counters the arguments of friends urging him to escape. And finally, in the Phaedo,...
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This carefully crafted ebook: "Plato: The Complete Works" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Plato (428/427 BC - 348/347 BC) was a philosopher in Classical Greece. He was also a mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle,...
5) Gorgias
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In "Gorgias," Plato explores the nature of rhetoric and its ethical implications. Through dialogues involving Socrates, Gorgias, and other characters, the text delves into the art of persuasion, morality, and the pursuit of true knowledge. It challenges the superficial use of rhetoric and advocates for virtue as the foundation of a just society. Read in English, unabridged.
7) Ion
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"Ion" is a dialogue by Plato that explores the nature of artistic inspiration and the role of the artist in society. The main character, Ion, is a rhapsode who specializes in reciting epic poetry by Homer. Socrates engages Ion in a conversation, and the discussion unfolds as Socrates questions Ion about the source of his ability to recite poetry. Socrates argues that Ion's talent is not the result of his own knowledge or expertise, but rather a divine...
8) Apology
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Apology by Plato is a crucial Socratic dialogue that provides an understanding of the philosopher's own views on the trial and execution of Socrates. The work serves as a defence speech given by Socrates as he attempts to persuade the court of his innocence. By providing an insight into his philosophical beliefs, Plato uses the Apology to articulate his teacher's thoughts on justice, virtue, piety and moral responsibility. Read in English, unabridged....
9) Euthydemus
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"Euthydemus" is a dialogue by Plato, believed to have been written in the mid-4th century BCE. The dialogue centers around two sophists, Euthydemus and Dionysodorus, who arrive in Athens and begin to teach their brand of argumentative philosophy to young students. Socrates, the main character and interlocutor in the dialogue, engages with the sophists and exposes the flaws in their reasoning. Throughout the dialogue, the sophists engage in a series...
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The Trial and Death of Socrates remains a powerful document, partly because it was a true – perhaps in certain parts verbatim – account of the end of one of the greatest figures in history. In Apology Socrates defends himself before the Athenian court against charges of corrupting youth. Phaedo is the account, by a young man, of the actual last words and moments of Socrates. These are presented with scene-setting introductions to the historical...
11) Cratylus
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Cratylus, written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, is an exploration of the nature of language and its relationship to reality. In this dialogue, Plato engages in a discourse with two interlocutors, Hermogenes and Cratylus, about the distinction between conventional and natural languages. Through this discussion, Plato suggests that language is an expression of knowledge which can be used to understand reality. Read in English, unabridged.
12) Plato's Apology
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Socrates is on trial for his life. He is charged with impiety and corrupting young people. He presents his own defense, explaining why he has devoted his life to challenging the most powerful and important people in the Greek world. The reason is that rich and famous politicians, priests, poets, and a host of others pretend to know what is good, true, holy, and beautiful, but when Socrates questions them, they are shown to be foolish rather than wise.
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13) Plato's Ion
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Socrates questions Ion, an actor who just won a major prize, about his ability to interpret the epic poetry of Homer. How does an actor, a poet, or any other artist create? Is it by knowing? Is it by inspiration? As the dialogue proceeds, the nature of human creativity emerges as a mysterious process and an unsolved puzzle.
© Agora Publications
14) Plato: Apology
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The Apology is Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates as he defended himself in 399 BC against the charges of "corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel" . "Apology" here has its earlier meaning of speaking in defense of a cause or of one's beliefs or actions. The general term apology, in context to literature, defends a world from attack (opposite of satire-which...
15) Plato's Crito
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The Athenian court has found Socrates guilty and sentenced him to death. While he is waiting to be executed, his friend, Crito, comes to the prison to persuade him to escape and go into exile. Socrates responds by examining the essence of law and community, probing the various kinds of law and making distinctions that go far beyond the particular issue of whether or not Socrates should escape.
© Agora Publications
16) Sophist
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In "Sophist," Plato explores the nature of sophistry and the elusive concept of being. Through engaging dialogues, the characters delve into the intricacies of language, existence, and the art of persuasion. The pursuit of truth and the examination of reality unfold in this philosophical exploration. Read in English, unabridged.
17) Philebus
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The dialogue centers around the nature of pleasure and its relationship to the good life. The two main interlocutors in the dialogue are Socrates and Philebus, a prominent Athenian intellectual. Throughout the dialogue, Socrates and Philebus engage in a complex and nuanced discussion about the nature of pleasure and its place in the good life. They explore questions such as whether pleasure is the ultimate good, whether there are different kinds of...
18) Phaedo
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Phaedo by Plato is a prolific work of philosophy that examines the relationship between the soul and immortality. The Socratic dialogue draws from the teachings of Socrates on his final day, when he was awaiting his execution, and examines the notion of an afterlife for the souls of those who have passed away. Read in English, unabridged.
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In Euthyphro, Socrates is on his way to the court, where he must defend himself against serious charges brought by religious and political authorities. On the way he meets Euthyphro, an expert on religious matters who has come to prosecute his own father. Socrates questions Euthyphro's claim that religion serves as the basis for ethics. Euthyphro is not able to provide satisfactory answers to Socrates' questions, but their dialogue leaves us with...
20) Lysis
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"Lysis" is a dialogue by Plato that explores the nature of friendship and the qualities that make it valuable. The dialogue is named after the main character, a young boy named Lysis, and is narrated by Socrates. Socrates encounters Lysis and his friend Menexenus, and begins to question them about the nature of their friendship. Lysis and Menexenus struggle to define what makes their friendship valuable, and Socrates suggests that perhaps they are...
