Essential Thinkers: Plato

by Plato

Mini-sized Hardcover with gold leaf pages edges & built-in bookmark with selections from Protagoras, Republic, Phaedrus & Gorgias.

Genres: Classics, Nonfiction, Philosophy

475 pages, Hardcover

Published January 15, 2004

About the author

Plato (Greek: Πλάτων), born Aristocles (c. 427 – 348 BC), was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a foundational thinker in Western philosophy and an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms. He raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, and was the founder of the Platonic Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.
Plato's most famous contribution is the theory of forms (or ideas), which has been interpreted as advancing a solution to what is now known as the problem of universals. He was decisively influenced by the pre-Socratic thinkers Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, although much of what is known about them is derived from Plato himself.
Along with his teacher Socrates, and Aristotle, his student, Plato is a central figure in the history of philosophy. Plato's entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years—unlike that of nearly all of his contemporaries. Although their popularity has fluctuated, they have consistently been read and studied through the ages. Through Neoplatonism, he also greatly influenced both Christian and Islamic philosophy. In modern times, Alfred North Whitehead famously said: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato."

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could never stand Plato when I had to study his works in many classes throughout my schooling, but decided to try reading them again on my own. I found his works just as boring and even less palatable, except to understand the historical significance of both his and Socrates' works. Beyond that, I think I shall be very happy if I never have to read his works again.

[Searska GreyRaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a fan of Plato, but this is a decent pocket edition of some of his better known work.