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The Mind of Plato
This outstanding work by a renowned Plato scholar presents the thought of the great Greek philosopher with historical accuracy and objective analysis. A brief introductory chapter about the philosopher's life is followed by an in-depth examination of his voluminous writings, particularly the dialogues. A substantial appendix explores works often attributed to Plato.
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
156 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1922
About the author
A.E. Taylor
92 books14 followersAlfred Edward Taylor was a British idealist philosopher. He was born in 1869, the son of a Wesleyan minister. Among many distinguished appointments, he held the chair of Moral Philosophy at Edinburgh from 1924 to 1941. His main interests were Platonic philosophy and the theology of Christianity, and his contributions in both these fields have been of far-reaching importance. "Does God Exist?" was his last considerable work on the philosophy of religion before his death in 1945.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 11, 2022
This is a short book on the main concepts surrounding Platonism. Although dense, it was quite comprehensible. It treats in large lines the life and writings of Plato with regards to epistemology, metaphysics, politics and cosmology. Below are the notes that I have taken from which I have tried to structure in a more or less orderly manner. I think I benefited from this overview into Plato's work which I'm sure will prove to be useful in my further study of the subject.
• Introduction
○ Brief introduction to Plato's life and some historical facts related to his existence. It goes, also, into the way of teaching in Ancient Greece and their education system. There is a dizzying attempt to order his works in chronological order by looking into several historical sources as well as a short dispute on the authenticity of Plato's dialogues and letters.
• Epistemology (from mostly Phaedo, Meno, Phaedrus)
○ All personages of Plato's dialogues must be considered as characters in a play and not as the historical representation of that person in order to represent a particular set of ideas. This also includes Socrates who represents neither the actual historical Socrates nor a representation of Plato, just the hero of the dialogues. It must be noted though that the ideas are attributed to the philosopher Socrates nonetheless.
○ We are introduced to Plato's ideas around knowledge. The role of the philosopher is to make people think on their own. Philosophy is a in Plato's opinion a way of life.
○ We are introduces to the idea of forms by taking the example of 'beauty' which embodies beautiful things, such as the eternal and perfect concept.
○ Mathematics is the one and only true science which at that time was the only discipline where certain results could be attained.
○ Concept: Only one virtue possible - knowing; only one vice - intellectual error. Paradox: All virtues are merely one and therefore the only wrongdoing is error of judgement. No man can know what is good for him without doing it and thus wrong action is consequently always involuntary.
○ Knowledge cannot be associated with sense perception or true belief. Genuine error or false opinion is impossible: you cannot think what is not. Absolute vs relative denial: thinking what is false is thinking what is not. Thinking what is not is impossible.
○ Socrates identifies any virtue with knowledge thus failing to discriminate between them (so a knowledgeable man must by default also be also courageous and just etc.). Virtue depends on correct opinion which belongs persons who do not hold insights into the reasons for their opinions and is therefore different than real knowledge (so basically you just guessed something right).
○ Plato insists upon the immortality and preexistence of the soul (Phaedo and Meno).
○ Immortality - based on cyclical patterns implies that creation of one thing from its opposite therefore life comes from death (otherwise the ultimate fate of the universe is the cessation of life - in conflict with the modern law of thermodynamics.
• Political theory and ethics (from mostly the Republic)
○ Platonic theory of ethics and politics: the soul contains a rational and non-rational part therefore there must be a balanced relation between the two (the souls must rule and body must obey)
○ Critique on circular logic of hedonism and the imminent danger of perpetually gratifying all desires. Quality of pleasure is worth more than quantity (pure pleasures > mixed/impure pleasures). Pure pleasures are not the ones derived from relief (bodily) and there is no element of illusion about them (they are pleasures of the soul): contemplation of beauty, and pleasures of acquisition of knowledge. Impure pleasures (pleasures of appetite) are just an illusion since they are just a relief from a previously painful or uncomfortable experience (satisfying hunger etc.).
○ An exposition of Plato's political ideas (Republic), going through the importance of each of the four virtues (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the application of each into an ideal state. The efficiency of the individual citizens is brushed upon while the class system (no slaves, just military and non-military) proposed by Plato is also described.
○ Plato suggests a balanced mix of the disciplined and organized character of the Spartans with the artistic, wise and creative spirit of the Athenians. Plato stresses the importance of education in music and poetry (for the mind) and practical gymnastics (for the body). He also is of some (and later, most) forms of literary arts especially those portraying the gods as being devious as he insisted that god is always good and the youth must be taught accordingly.
○ Plato believes that the best way to run the state is to assign every individual to a task, be it military or not, excluding the possibility of personal property of family. Children are to be born between selected couples and raised together in a common nursery without meeting their parents. Subsequently, the adults can be fully emerged in their duty. This applies partially to women, who although are excluded from many occupations, they are included, oddly enough, in the military and warfare. Romantic love is completely disregarded (as it usually was in Ancient Greece with the exception of homoeroticism between male youths).
○ Plato's view of the ideal society is shockingly communistic and it leaves a bitter taste to the reader with the knowledge of the unfolding of last century's history.
○ What is interesting is the long period which Plato thinks should be allocated to learning. The statesmen, those who wish to become rules and politicians must dedicate their whole twenties to the study of mathematics and then another five years to studying dialectics. At 35 they must begin to work in public service and only at 50 are entitled to speculate on the abstractions of a good state.
○ Detailed explanation on Plato's disapproval of tyranny and despotic rules with an emphasis on their caprice, unstable character and poor education. Plato considers a philosopher king as the best form of government followed by the democracy.
• Cosmology (from Timaeus)
○ A good god created the world to express his goodness.
○ Four elements of Empedocles with the molecules of the four elementary substances having different geometries consisting of triangles. Fire, air, water are interconvertible but not earth.
○ The soul is created first from the same material as the soul of the world and later assigned to the body by the lesser deities.
○ Earth is in the center in the universe and it is fixed. Day and night is explained by changes in the atmosphere while the seasons occur due to the movement of the planets surrounding the Earth. It is said that Plato would have eventually changed his mind in his old age and regretted his claims in the Timaeus.
• Introduction
○ Brief introduction to Plato's life and some historical facts related to his existence. It goes, also, into the way of teaching in Ancient Greece and their education system. There is a dizzying attempt to order his works in chronological order by looking into several historical sources as well as a short dispute on the authenticity of Plato's dialogues and letters.
• Epistemology (from mostly Phaedo, Meno, Phaedrus)
○ All personages of Plato's dialogues must be considered as characters in a play and not as the historical representation of that person in order to represent a particular set of ideas. This also includes Socrates who represents neither the actual historical Socrates nor a representation of Plato, just the hero of the dialogues. It must be noted though that the ideas are attributed to the philosopher Socrates nonetheless.
○ We are introduced to Plato's ideas around knowledge. The role of the philosopher is to make people think on their own. Philosophy is a in Plato's opinion a way of life.
○ We are introduces to the idea of forms by taking the example of 'beauty' which embodies beautiful things, such as the eternal and perfect concept.
○ Mathematics is the one and only true science which at that time was the only discipline where certain results could be attained.
○ Concept: Only one virtue possible - knowing; only one vice - intellectual error. Paradox: All virtues are merely one and therefore the only wrongdoing is error of judgement. No man can know what is good for him without doing it and thus wrong action is consequently always involuntary.
○ Knowledge cannot be associated with sense perception or true belief. Genuine error or false opinion is impossible: you cannot think what is not. Absolute vs relative denial: thinking what is false is thinking what is not. Thinking what is not is impossible.
○ Socrates identifies any virtue with knowledge thus failing to discriminate between them (so a knowledgeable man must by default also be also courageous and just etc.). Virtue depends on correct opinion which belongs persons who do not hold insights into the reasons for their opinions and is therefore different than real knowledge (so basically you just guessed something right).
○ Plato insists upon the immortality and preexistence of the soul (Phaedo and Meno).
○ Immortality - based on cyclical patterns implies that creation of one thing from its opposite therefore life comes from death (otherwise the ultimate fate of the universe is the cessation of life - in conflict with the modern law of thermodynamics.
• Political theory and ethics (from mostly the Republic)
○ Platonic theory of ethics and politics: the soul contains a rational and non-rational part therefore there must be a balanced relation between the two (the souls must rule and body must obey)
○ Critique on circular logic of hedonism and the imminent danger of perpetually gratifying all desires. Quality of pleasure is worth more than quantity (pure pleasures > mixed/impure pleasures). Pure pleasures are not the ones derived from relief (bodily) and there is no element of illusion about them (they are pleasures of the soul): contemplation of beauty, and pleasures of acquisition of knowledge. Impure pleasures (pleasures of appetite) are just an illusion since they are just a relief from a previously painful or uncomfortable experience (satisfying hunger etc.).
○ An exposition of Plato's political ideas (Republic), going through the importance of each of the four virtues (justice, prudence, temperance, fortitude) and the application of each into an ideal state. The efficiency of the individual citizens is brushed upon while the class system (no slaves, just military and non-military) proposed by Plato is also described.
○ Plato suggests a balanced mix of the disciplined and organized character of the Spartans with the artistic, wise and creative spirit of the Athenians. Plato stresses the importance of education in music and poetry (for the mind) and practical gymnastics (for the body). He also is of some (and later, most) forms of literary arts especially those portraying the gods as being devious as he insisted that god is always good and the youth must be taught accordingly.
○ Plato believes that the best way to run the state is to assign every individual to a task, be it military or not, excluding the possibility of personal property of family. Children are to be born between selected couples and raised together in a common nursery without meeting their parents. Subsequently, the adults can be fully emerged in their duty. This applies partially to women, who although are excluded from many occupations, they are included, oddly enough, in the military and warfare. Romantic love is completely disregarded (as it usually was in Ancient Greece with the exception of homoeroticism between male youths).
○ Plato's view of the ideal society is shockingly communistic and it leaves a bitter taste to the reader with the knowledge of the unfolding of last century's history.
○ What is interesting is the long period which Plato thinks should be allocated to learning. The statesmen, those who wish to become rules and politicians must dedicate their whole twenties to the study of mathematics and then another five years to studying dialectics. At 35 they must begin to work in public service and only at 50 are entitled to speculate on the abstractions of a good state.
○ Detailed explanation on Plato's disapproval of tyranny and despotic rules with an emphasis on their caprice, unstable character and poor education. Plato considers a philosopher king as the best form of government followed by the democracy.
• Cosmology (from Timaeus)
○ A good god created the world to express his goodness.
○ Four elements of Empedocles with the molecules of the four elementary substances having different geometries consisting of triangles. Fire, air, water are interconvertible but not earth.
○ The soul is created first from the same material as the soul of the world and later assigned to the body by the lesser deities.
○ Earth is in the center in the universe and it is fixed. Day and night is explained by changes in the atmosphere while the seasons occur due to the movement of the planets surrounding the Earth. It is said that Plato would have eventually changed his mind in his old age and regretted his claims in the Timaeus.
March 22, 2021
This is such a short and lovely book on the philosophy of Plato. Although Plato woke me up from my unintellectual stupor, I cannot help but see a villain in him as much as I consider him my hero. Strange as it may sound, Plato is the first philosopher I read. He awoke me, but my true awakening in philosophy I owe to the amazing American thinker Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The Mind of Plato is a summary of Plato's ontology, his epistemology, his psychology, his politics, and his cosmogony. The book was written by perhaps the greatest authority on Plato in the past century. And it offers such a lucid recapitulation of the ideas present, that it complements his books perfectly. It is a short book, and therefore, for an example, it does not let you go so easily without reading extra-sources, but it's a good start or a good supplement to reading the original Platonic texts.
The writing is beautifully English, (as opposed to any other English dialect, like American or Australian), and it is fresh and beautiful and is exciting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
The Mind of Plato is a summary of Plato's ontology, his epistemology, his psychology, his politics, and his cosmogony. The book was written by perhaps the greatest authority on Plato in the past century. And it offers such a lucid recapitulation of the ideas present, that it complements his books perfectly. It is a short book, and therefore, for an example, it does not let you go so easily without reading extra-sources, but it's a good start or a good supplement to reading the original Platonic texts.
The writing is beautifully English, (as opposed to any other English dialect, like American or Australian), and it is fresh and beautiful and is exciting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.
May 4, 2021
back to school
February 12, 2022
He was an interesting bloke.
March 18, 2024
I didn’t care for the narrator so I chose not to finish it.
September 28, 2021
This was an accessible short overview of the works of Plato. It is clearly from some time ago, which is likely why I was able to find it for free on Audible. Despite its age, there hasn't been a great deal of change in the understanding of Plato's work, which are considerably older. The book groups themes from Plato's work a bit more than addressing individual works, which makes sense as a companion piece to the original works. I have only read some of Plato's works, but when this book references those, I found the writing insightful and useful in understanding Plato's perspective.
July 20, 2021
Jul 2021. Most of this was review but several ideas were new and intriguing. Need to find and quote a few lines in a physical copy. This audio recording, from 1993, was quite poor.
January 25, 2010
Very good. Listening to this as an audio, and the mental chess involved with parts of Plato's writing is very complex so I forsee listening to this again to be sure I understood the concepts involved.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews