Collected here are the complete works of Plato, in the classic translation by Benjamin Jowett. One of the most influential thinkers of Ancient Greece or any other era, Plato formed the basis of Western philosophy. Mostly written in the form of dialogues with his teacher Socrates as the protagonist, his works address themes as varied as metaphysics, psychology, pedagogy, politics, and ethics. Despite the weighty subject matter, Plato’s writing remains accessible to the general reader, and infused with wit and humor. Why is Plato worth reading today? His dialogues are vitally concerned with how we should live. His arguments always have an engagement with life. He combines the logical rigor of a philosopher with the imagination and artistry of a poet. In short, despite the passage of thousands of years, Plato remains relevant and compelling.

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Plato’s “Republic” is widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of Western philosophy. Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it 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; 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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“Socrates spent a lifetime analyzing 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”, Plato shows him calmly confident in the face of death, skilfully arguing the case for the immortality of the soul.”

~ Amazon.com

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