Product Description
A compilation of the essential works of Plato in  one paperback volume: The Republic, The  Symposium, Parmenides, Euthyphro, Apology,  Crito, and Phaedo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The Bible
Here is an essential compilation of works from the philosopher Emerson hailed as the "Euclid of holiness".Along with the full 'Death of Socrates' tetralogy (including the "Euthyphro", whose argument on the nature of piety gets to the heart of why Christianity is not, as Nietzsche suggests, 'Platonism for the masses') this Doubleday edition also includes the esoteric late-phase "Parmenides" and of course the "Symposium" and "Republic", all in Jowett's long-standard translations.Reading the "Republic" in full, one can savor the loftiness of Plato's vision of human nobility, a merging of aesthetic and ethical criteria which still accounts, more than anything else, for our conception of the transcendent quality of ancient Athens(again, contra Nietzsche and "The Birth of Tragedy").While the communitarian (and perhaps totalitarian) aspects of Plato's political vision may or may not be ironic, the deepest wellspring of Plato's utopia can best be found in the formula"beautiful minds in beautiful bodies" which he has bequeathed to us as a supreme ideal in love and education.Throughout, it is Plato's obsessive consideration of ethical ideals-- and the rationalist metaphysics in which he grounds ethical imperatives-- that galvanizes the reader to ponder the reconstruction of self and society in the light of higher truths.And his (deliberately undwelt-upon, if we can accept Letter VII) hints of the mystical, which have haunted the Western imagination ever since, make Platonism perhaps the most essential, most truly global, spiritual tradition in history.It is one which encompasses the sensual as well as the intellectual, the worldly and the other-worldly, and it accepts and encourages the freeplay of skepticism; as one can see in reading these works, Plato is usually his own best critic.

A Somewhat Flawed Edition
I feel that the Jowett translation is superior to others (especially for students) because of its easy-reading quality. As anyone who has read the Platonic dialogues is sure to know, they are often somewhat dry, with keypoints strewn amongst seemingly endless dialogues. This makes the fact thatthe Jowett translation is written in layman's terms that much moreappreciated. For this, the translation earns its three stars. Otherwise, ithas a horrific layout, with no numbering for reference to lines (making ithard to use for writing papers and difficult for reference in a class thatuses a different translation because the page numbers most likely will notcoincide). Besides this, there is no reference at the top of each page todenote who the speakers are, which is often helpful because it is easy toforget who is speaking due to the work's length and number of characters.The Bloom edition has these notes but I would not recommend this eitherbecause it is a more difficult read and has a commentary essay includedthat is half the length of the Republic itself. So, unless you don't mindthe extra bulk when it comes to carrying it around, don't take the mentionof the Bloom edition as a recommendation. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to introduce students to the academic discipline of Communication, this text describes the scope and methods of communication studies, and sketches its history from the work of the early sophists to contemporary research efforts. Boxing Plato's Shadow helps explain why, despite its long and venerable history of scholarly endeavor, Communication continues to struggle for recognition of its legitimate place in the academy. Throughout, the authors emphasize the field's durability over more than two millennia and the merits of multiple systematic approaches to the study of communication. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An introduction to the study of Human Communication
It was not the right addition of the book that was pictured and ordered. She would not offer a return. I would not recommend this buyer.

Great seller!
Fast shipping, great price, book in described condition. Easy to work with, and would work with this seller again.

Rhetoric "On the Ropes"?
Dues and Brown are "spot on" in this survey of the history and importance of rhetorical theory, conceptually. However, in a book that is only eighty-seven pages long, such a "survey" can be "a motorcycle ride though an art gallery", in practice. The treatments of the subjects that are addressed in this "little book" came close to being so "Harley-ed", at times.

That being said, I believe that there is much to recommend this book, especially for readers who are looking for a book that will give a good "thumbnail sketch" of important issues in and for the study of rhetoric. For example, I was particularly impressed by the authors' constructive analysis and application of the "Neo-Aristotelian" school of rhetorical analysis, a treatment that has not been common in the field of rhetoric since 1965, when a "double whammy" by Black's book and the outbreak of a "Young Turk/Old Buffalo" academic blood feud led to the great diminishment and disparagement of this type (and, for a time, of practically any other type) of rhetorical analysis. In addition, the authors' accessible (but not simplistic) writing style and use of narrative made the book a very pleasant "read".

My suggestions for the next addition fo this book (and I do hope that there will be a next edition)can be encompassed by one word: more.

The first three chapters, which are devoted, in effect, to "everything you ever wanted to know about the history of rhetoric but were afraid to ask" need to be at least twice as long as they currently are in order to provide at least a bit more of a complete and coherent analysis of the people,ideas, and events that are being discussed. Much the same assessment can be made of the fourth chapter, which deals with the application of the theories and methodologies of the social sciences to the study of human communication.

However, it is the fifth chapter, which deals with "enduring issues" and "enduring value" in the field of communication study, that most needs "beefing up". While I believe that the issues that are being advanced are important ones I question whether a "general reader" could make meaningful sense of the authors' analyses as they are currently being presented. I believe that this observation has particular force where the nature and impacts of Plato's "dark shadow" are discussed.

This is a good book, as it is. "Fleshed out", this book could be a very good book.

Good Overview
As a teacher and student of Philosophy and Communication, I can say that Dues and Brown really capture the historical roots of the Communication discipline in a volume thinner than my little finger. This is an excellent resource for all Communication scholars, and a great book to use in a survey course. D&B capture the essential elements of history and philosophy in a way that no one else could! ... Read more

Product Description
Authoritative and idiomatic, this translation has already established an impressive foothold in the college market. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Response to Ego
Mr Neulander,
It's sweet that you have read books.
To review this book you should probably READ this book, the one you are supposedly reviewing as opposed to expounding your wonderfulness into the ether.
Self abuse should be kept private. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a completely new translation of one of the great works of Western political thought.In addition to Tom Griffith's vivid, dignified and accurate rendition of Plato's text, this edition is suitable for students at all levels. It contains an introduction that assesses the cultural background to the Republic, its place within political philosophy, and its general argument; succinct notes in the text; an analytical summary of content; a full glossary of proper names; a chronology of important events; and a guide to further reading. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Very happy customer
Thank you so much for the quick delivery of this book. It was in excellent condition.

The ultimate Socratic dialogue?
"The Republic" is Plato's classical utopia, and perhaps one of the most controversial political texts ever written. It's so absurd that some people deny that Plato really meant it! Strange Aristotle never noticed. And yet, those who believe that "The Republic" shouldn't be taken literally probably have a point. Plato himself didn't take "The Republic" absolutely literally either.

"The Republic" describes a hierarchical caste society ruled by a militarized, collectivist elite. The elite itself is divided into different segments, the highest echelon being that of the philosopher-kings, enlightened thinkers who contemplate the heavenly world of Platonic forms, and precisely for that reason are fit to rule society as well. Below the philosopher-kings stand the Guardians, essentially the military caste. Famously, both the philosophers and Guardians live under conditions of total communism. They own no private property, are reared together, and hence don't know their parents or siblings. Strictly speaking, there are philosopher-queens as well, and also female soldiers, since the elite has gender equality (a point that has puzzled modern feminists). Below the elite groups stand merchants, artisans and farmers, but no slaves. The castes are (almost) hereditary, eugenics are used to ensure the fitness of the elite groups, and the population is induced to believe in fantastic, religious myths. The myths are noble lies welding this strange society together. Did I leave something out? Oh, and the poets are banished from the city! In other words, the ideal society described in "The Republic" looks like a curious blend of Sparta, Egypt and India (at least the two former societies would have been known to Plato).

So where do we go from here? The most moderate interpretation is that although Plato did regard "The Republic" as the best society, he didn't really believe that such a society was possible. It was a deliberate utopia. This raises a lot ofintriguing questions, such as how Plato imagined the best *possible* society to look like, or what function "The Republic" was supposed to have. The first question is to some extent answered in "The Laws" and the Seventh Epistle, where Plato advocates a mixed constitution. What the answer to the second question might be, I honestly don't know. Perhaps nobody does. A wild guess: the point of Plato's utopia was to explore certain ideas without hindrance, throw certain concepts into as sharp relief as possible, in other words, do exactly what modern utopian novels do, in contrast to political utopias meant to be taken seriously.

I think that Plato clearly saw both the dilemma of democracy, and the dilemmas of tyranny and oligarchy, what we would simply call "dictatorship". Plato saw his teacher Socrates being persecuted by the regime of the Thirty Tyrants, but he also saw him being executed by the demos. The twin dilemmas of both dictatorship and democracy were starkly visible in the life of Socrates. The perennial problem of democracy is: what happens if the people vote the wrong way? (In Athens, the problem was even more pronounced, since many positions were filled by lot!) The perennial problem of dictatorship: how do we stop a ruler from becoming a tyrant, if the people can't even vote? Plato's solution to the problem was to balance the demos and the elite by a mixed constitution. In "The Laws" he took Sparta and the Cretan city-states as his concrete models, but he might just as well have harkened back to the days of Solon, or made use of the systems in Carthage or Republican Rome.

Plato's concrete solutions aren't ours, of course. Even the Athenian democracy he criticized was a far cry from our modern conceptions of democracy. From our vantage point, a mixed constitution on a Spartan or Cretan model actually looks even worse than the Athenian system. Note also the irony that "The Laws" lack the "socialist" and "feminist" traits of the Platonic utopia. Also, there is slavery in Magnesia, the name given by Plato to his realistic Cretan city-state, while there doesn't seem to be any slaves in "The Republic". And yet, despite the obvious differences between Plato's time and ours, the dilemma is still with us! Modern democracies attempt to solve it by combining universal suffrage with a division of powers, by a federal structure, or by a strong constitution guaranteeing basic human rights, a constitution that cannot be changed, at least not by a simple majority. Our methods may be different from the Platonic ones, but we are still trying to solve the same dilemma as he experienced in the aftermath of the Peloponessian War.

It could further be argued that no clever constitutional solution is possible in the long run, if the citizens loose their sense of civic duty. And it further seems that civic duty is possible only in a relatively small state, without too large income or property differentials between the citizens. Indeed, even Plato's moderate city-state in "The Laws" insists on the citizens having roughly equal amounts of landed property, property that can be neither bought nor sold.Of course, our concept of citizenship is much broader than the Platonic one: women and even resident aliens are citizens, and there are no slaves. Yet, Plato's general point seems to be correct.

So far, I have only touched on those points in "The Republic" and "The Laws" that could be creatively developed without offending our modern sensibilities too much.But, of course, "The Republic" also deals with other issues, more disturbing ones to our liberal ears. Are people really born equal? Are there innate differences between individuals? Is it always permissible for the rulers to tell the truth? Do societies need myths and noble lies? Ironically, Plato also asked questions that should disturb some conservatives: Given that innate differences are individual rather than sex-related, does this mean that the sexes are equal? And what's so good about private property and foreign trade anyway?

Perhaps that's the main function played by "The Republic". It's a work of provocation, a work meant to shock us into boldly questioning our preconceptions, a work that's the very opposite of a noble lie. Pace Popper, "The Republic" might actually be Plato's most Socratic work!

[This isn't really a review of this particular edition, but a general comment on Plato's dialogue, and its relation to some other works, but placing it here felt like the most natural option.]

Understand the strengths and weaknesses of the Griffith translation
This version of the Republic (translated by Tom Griffith) is pleasant and readable; it definitely has its moments and would probably be a good way to first encounter the dialogue. But do not use it for serious study, since the translation can be quite free and sometimes confusing. For instance, the word usually translated as "advantageous" (sumpheron) in Thrasymachus's argument is rendered as "good for." This is a nice attempt to capture the meaning in a natural way - but I personally wouldn't play around with the word "good" in a translation of the Republic. ... Read more

Product Description
Rich in drama and humor, this volume of seven dialogues includes the controversial Ion, a debate on poetic inspiration; Laches, in which Socrates seeks to define bravery; and Euthydemus, which considers the relationship between philosophy and politics. Together, these dialogues provide a definitive portrait of the real Socrates and raise issues still keenly debated by philosophers, forming an incisive overview of Plato’s philosophy.

As the father of Western philosophy, who transformed Greek thought with his questioning insights into life and ethics, Socrates was a powerful inspiration—and major irritant—to the Athenians of his day. After his trial and execution on charges of heresy and the corruption of young minds, his greatest pupil, Plato, wrote these early dialogues as an act of homage. ... Read more

Product Description
In the fifth century BC professional educators, the sophists, travelled the Greek world claiming to teach success in public and private life. In this dialogue Plato shows the pretensions of the leading sophist, Protagoras, challenged by the critical arguments of Socrates. From criticism of the educational aims and methods of the sophists the dialogue broadens out to consider the nature of the good life, and the role of pleasure and intellect in the context of that life. ... 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 (10)

Great, but why not buy a collection?
"Phaedo" is one of Plato's best and most important works. Though well worth reading by itself, the fact that it is widely anthologized - e.g., in The Trial and Death of Socrates - makes it very hard to justify a standalone.

Though apparently early and not as complex or philosophically influential as later ones, "Phaedo" is immensely important in portraying Socrates' death. Along with the aforementioned dialogues, it is our clearest picture of the historical Socrates and would be invaluable for this alone. Indeed, I have read hundreds - perhaps thousands - of books, and this is one of my ten or so favorites, mostly because of how moving the depiction of the great man's last days is. The story of Socrates' last moments is part of world literature's very fabric, an immortal part of Western cultural heritage. However, the works have great value even aside from this; a few have indeed questioned their historical veracity. This does not affect their philosophical, literary, and political worth, which is of the highest, making the book doubly essential.

"Phaedo" ostensibly details Socrates' last moments, including his last look at his wife and child, his last dialogue, his last words to friends, and his actual death. A large part of Socrates' image comes from this, and its potential historical value is inconceivable, though its historicity can easily be doubted since the work itself strongly suggests that Plato was not there. Even so, it is likely accurate in regard to the things that really matter and certainly a fine account of how it very well could have been. It is extremely moving; shot through with pathos, it is one of the most affecting things I have ever read. One can surely not read it without being overcome by emotion; I can hardly even think of it without misty eyes. Anyone who respects and admires this central Western civilization figure will be profoundly touched; his famous last words seem comic out of context but are very much otherwise here, telling us much about Socrates and moving us yet further. This would be one of the greatest works of all-time if it had no other aspect, but it is also a fine dialogue appropriately dealing mostly with death. Plato examines perennial questions like the soul's immortality and metempsychosis very thoroughly and thought-provokingly, and the conclusion - unsurprisingly, given the circumstances - has uncharacteristic certainty. It may not convince our cynical, empiricist, science-loving, twentieth century-surviving age, but the argument is certainly well-made and in many ways admirable. The dialogue touches on other important subjects also and is generally seen as the culmination of Plato's early, Socrates-centered thought.

The ever-important translation issue must also be kept in mind. It goes without saying that anyone who cares about intellectual issues, especially applied ones, must know Plato, as should anyone who wants to be even basically well-read. However, this is far easier said than done for most; he is so different from what now passes for literature, to say nothing of pop culture, that he is virtually inaccessible to general readers. Yet the importance of persevering cannot be overemphasized; the payoff is well worth the effort. As nearly always in such cases, reading him becomes far easier after the initial difficulty; no attentive reader will ever think Plato easy reading, but he is utterly absorbing once we get used to his style. He has a near-poetic beauty that all agree has never even been remotely approached in philosophy, and such mesmerizing prose is rare in any genre. His dialogues are an incredible form at once intellectually and aesthetically pleasing - an inspired combination that has perhaps never been bettered; many have appropriated it, but none have matched it. All this means that picking the right translation is probably more important with Plato than any other writer. This Benjamin Jowett translation is now quite old but still very accessible; it will work quite well for most, but anyone struggling should try a more recent version. For the average reader, the more recent, the better is generally true. The important thing is to read Plato in some form, and those who happen on a translation that does not work for them should keep trying until their mind opens in a truly new way - and once done, it will never close again.

Talks About The Nature Of The Soul
I guess the main idea here is whether or not the soul is immortal.

Does the soul exist outside of this physical, earthly experience ?

I've only begun reading Plato after years of reading a lot of other new age type books such as the Edgar Cayce material and Dr. Brian Weiss.

Plato is often consistent with those new age ideas but he expresses his thoughts in a more poetic way.

Plato and those others believed in reincarnation and even being reborn as an animal.

A new age theory about this is that if you go back to 10,500 BC and beyond you had a lot of people running around with for example the body of a human being but the head of a horse, tree branches for arms, etc..

Most people had tails back then.

This was a result of people projecting themselves into this physical dimension and getting entangled in the animal and plant worlds.As they did this across multiple incarnations they started to develop those animal appendages in their physical bodies.

It was in ancient Egypt around 10,500 BC that the priest Ra Ta and other Atlanteans helped these "things" to rid themselves of these animal characteristics.

That "mystery of mysteries" the sphinx is a creature that is part human and part lion.Don't think this doesn't have some very deep and hidden meaning.

Another key point in the book is the death of Socrates.He dies like a true philosopher, not in fear, but calmly.

At one point Socrates actually proves that one plus one is not equal to two.That's power.

Jeff Marzano

Same Soul, Many Bodies: Discover the Healing Power of Future Lives through Progression Therapy

Lives of the Master: The Rest of the Jesus Story

The Lives of Edgar Cayce

Edgar Cayce's Egypt: Psychic Revelations on the Most Fascinating Civilization Ever Known

Initiation

Initiation in the Great Pyramid (Astara's Library of Mystical Classics)

The true Philosopher is always seeking to free the soul from the body
If it was up to me to preserve just one of the dialogues of Plato for posterity it would be the Phaedo. That is because this is the metaphysical core of the teachings of Socrates (the main character) as told by Plato. As is emphasized in the text, death is the main topic of concern for the true philosopher- and that is what is covered here. However, there is nothing morbid about it. This is a message of hope, for Socrates establishes the divinity and immortality of the soul. The good man, he who has purified himself through the love of wisdom (Philosophy) goes to a higher, purer realm to be with like-minded souls and the gods themselves. The bad man also goes to his just reward with those of like character.

If I was to abstract the core truth here it would be that the true philosopher is always trying to free his soul from the body- for only then is the soul free of the distractions and distortions that can corrupt it and keep it from direct perception of the Ideals (Absolute Truth, Good, Beauty, and Justice.)

You easily see where the Church borrowed so much of its basic theological underpinnings. In fact, reading this work abolishes forever in your mind the idea that the pre-Christian pagans were in anyway necessarily savage or barbaric in their deepest spiritual beliefs. This is spirituality more pure than anything preached by the Church- and it is supported by reasoned argument and not appeal to empty faith and authority.

The closing of the dialog is probably the finest depiction in Western literature of the death of a great and good man. You truly concur that Socrates was indeed the wisest and justest and best of all men.

Socrates' final hours
Socrates is unique among philosophers, not just for his place among the early Greek philosophers, but also for the fact that he is the most famous philosopher to never write his own books. What we know of Socrates comes from contemporary accounts and students, most particularly Plato.

Set in 399 BCE, the Phaedo is a reconstruction of Socrates final conversations with friends on the day he died. We do not know when this dialogue was written, but it was probably before The Republic (Plato's most famous work, also featuring the figure of Socrates). Like The Republic, this dialogue features a well developed theory of Forms -- these are introduced gradually here, slowly filling out the details of each step. This develops the story of the caves idea from Plato's earlier work in epistemological, metaphysical, moral, and semantic terms.Plato also advances the 'imperfection argument' here -- the idea that when we sense something, it is never perfectly the thing we are thinking of, and that idea or standard to which we relate what we see, hear, feel, etc. is tying into a more perfect Form.

However, the idea of the soul is rather less developed here than in The Republic. The soul is simply mind, or intellect - all emotions are here placed as bodily aspects. This is rather Pythagorean in a fashion, that only the soul grasps the perfect Forms, and so should consist of nothing but reasoning ability, for emotions distort and cloud the perceptions and judgments.

In the end of the Phaedo, we witness Socrates drink the hemlock, without fear or trembling, as a philosopher should know the value of life and welcome death with a firm hope. The story is almost religious in nature here.

David Gallop's translation is good and true to the original (in as much as I can tell from my small Greek learning).It is somewhat tending toward the formal side. This is serious stuff, but in a small number of pages manages to capture much, and this makes it all the more relevant.

Spirit of the ancient
I will not quote myself, but I'll evoke the words that I have written here before in the review of Krishnamurti's book. Since you're reading this I guess you're interested in Plato's philosophy and this work in particular. I'll just say few words and then will let you to dive into the book and find the meaning for yourself.
This is the book that belong to Plato's later works, and debate continues whether Socrates in this book is historical Socrates or just voice of Plato. If you take into consideration few Aristotelian lines than first option would be the true one. But, no matter which one is right, Socrates here is presented as few characters of world literature are. I can not speak about philosophy here, so I shall speak about style. Bearing the posture of romantic poets, and if you picture ancient greek dungeon as some reneiscance castle dungeon, you'll have the setting. And tht's it. No quarells, no fightning and vicious murdering, just one of the most beautifull speeches conserning human soul, and only one, diginified, death.
Books like these give me hope that there is still a chance for a world to become the better place. ... Read more

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

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Plato's frontal attack on poetry has always been a problem for sympathetic students, who have often minimized or avoided it. Beginning with the premise that the attack must be taken seriously, Mr. Havelock shows that Plato's hostility is explained by the continued domination of the poetic tradition in contemporary Greek thought.

The reason for the dominance of this tradition was technological. In a nonliterate culture, stored experience necessary to cultural stability had to be preserved as poetry in order to be memorized. Plato attacks poets, particularly Homer, as the sole source of Greek moral and technical instruction--Mr. Havelock shows how the Illiad acted as an oral encyclopedia. Under the label of mimesis, Plato condemns the poetic process of emotional identification and the necessity of presenting content as a series of specific images in a continued narrative.

The second part of the book discusses the Platonic Forms as an aspect of an increasingly rational culture. Literate Greece demanded, instead of poetic discourse, a vocabulary and a sentence structure both abstract and explicit in which experience could be described normatively and analytically: in short a language of ethics and science.

Customer Reviews (2)

Plato would substitute reason for emotionalism
Frequently I receive comments via the Internet some of which prove to be of value.One such was the Class of 2000/2002 that points out that these graduates have very little direct knowledge of even their recent past.It only proves that if they are to be enculturated, they must first be taught.In Plato's day, the means was by oral transmission, the effect of which was to perpetuate what might not be true."Memesis," the total act of representation, that part of of our individual consciousness to which it is designed to appeal, is the area of the non-rational, of the pathological emotions, the unbridled and fluctuating sentiments with which we feel but never think. It is the affect imagery of emotion that hits us directly in the gut before being filtered through the brain, there to be digested before accepted. When indulged in this way emotion weakens and destroys that rational faculty in which alone lies hope of personal salvation and scientific assurance.Memesis is the "active" personal identification with which the audience sympathies and is enculturated because it is taught.He who cannot justify his own conclusions cannot be considered a totally educated person.Still,there is a need for guidance if the pupil is not to get in over his head and tend to drown rather than learn to swim and particpate for the good of all.

The place to start with Plato
If you want to start with Plato, this is the place. Plato, through Socrates, indulges in a huge polemic. The problem with a polemic is that unless you have a clear idea of who he is arguing against and why you won'tunderstand what is being said. Havelock's aim is to situate you in theancient Greece of Plato's day and explain exactly what Plato is on about.Suddenly Plato doesn't seem quite so bizarre if you have some idea why hesays what he says. Havelock starts with the tenth book of the Republic: whydoes Plato ban poets and poetry (especially Homer) from his utopia? Platowas no mean poet himself, so what does this mean? Havelock tells you intechnicolor the why's and wherefore's of the historical situation so thatyou can read Republic (and the other dialogues as well) without flyingblind. ... Read more

Product Description
The authors of this book consult fifteen thinkers, from various fields, who have a profound understanding of the important role that education plays in our world. Each chapter opens with an Introduction and concludes with a discussion and questions. Contents: Introduction; "Plato", Plato's Cave: On Breaking the Chains of Ignorance; "Confucius", Confucius, The Master Teacher; "John Locke", Locke On Developing Good Habits; "Jean Jacques Rousseau", Rousseau On Keeping Education Natural; "Johann Frederich Herbart", Herbart On the Education of Moral Character; "Horace Mann", Mann's Purposes of Education; "William James", James On the Laws of Habit; "Booker T. Washington", Washington On Achieving Social Equality; "John Dewey", Dewey On Society and Education; "Maria Montessori", Montessori: My System of Education; "Carl Rogers", Rogers On Becoming a Person; "B.F. Skinner", Skinner On Contingency Management in the Classroom; "Shinichi Suzuki", Suzuki On the Intellectual Development of the Child; Conclusion; Bibliography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good, Short and Sweet!
I bought this book for my class and it was awesome. It had concise, helpful information on many educational theorists. For the most part it was easy reading and it really helped in my presentations. If you need concise information on educational theorist this is the book for you. If you need deep, highly detailed background on the lives of the theorist, this would probably be of help, but not the all and be all. ... Read more

Product Description
Collected here in two volumes 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. ... Read more

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Celebrating its fiftieth year in publication, GREAT POLITICAL THINKERS is an indispensable text for all students of political philosophy. This text contains portions of great works in their original form to whet the appetite and to encourage discussion within the classroom. By providing historical context and current scholarship, Alan Ebenstein builds upon the framework of influences that have shaped current political thoughts and theories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Great Book
Great collection of essays with very thoughful commentary by authors and editors. Highly recommend, great reference book.

Great Political Thinkers: Plato to Present
William Ebenstien produced an excellent overview of political thought and Alan Ebenstien improved its brilliance. Its organization is sound and the passages chosen are very well thought out.

Ebenstien's introductions are prolific and insightful. He has a masterful knowledge and understanding of true meaning, context, and consequences of the ideas presented. I reccommend this book to anyone interested in gaining a thorough overview of politcal thought and its origins. I found this book to be clear and rich.

I also encourage Professors of Western Politcal Thought to use this book and challenge thier students to have a greater understanding of ideas, their origins and consequences. In the Hegelian way, understanding history and the context of our times is of the utmost importance. This book will serve its readers well.

great book poli sci lovers
I first read this book (not completely) just out of high school, for the purpose of a little education prior to declaration of a Political Science major. It was easy to read and concepts were easily understood. This book gives enough information to answer basic questions of Political Science as well as creating deeper more involved questions to be answered elsewhere. This is a great background book. Personally, I love the ancient philosphers and this book does a good job of using their best works.

Great Analysis as Well as Anthology
I have the 3rd Edition from college and recently returned to it to read some parts that were omitted then.The book is great because it is not only a comprehensive anthology of important political thought but it also has well-written introductions that explain what you are about to read.Since some of the writers are not the easiest to read in the original, the introduction plays an important part in understanding what you are reading.And don't worry about the price -- you are buying a lifetime reference book.

Great Political Thinkers: From Plato to Present
I purchased this book in 1975.It is the remaining text from my undergraduate days that I keep on my book shelf... a tremndous resource.

I actually took the class of the same title at UC Santa Barbara from Dr. Ebenstein himself.Back then, he was a giant in the political science field (still is) and we stood in awe of him.At the same time, he was the only professor I had there who would invite us to a brown-bag lunch each week to discuss course work and his personal experience in Europe before and during WWII.I cherish the text as a reminder of my unbelievable good fortune to have known this great scholar as well as a kind and gentle man.He and this book continue to inspire me. ... Read more

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Socrates: Phaedrus, I am a friend of division and synthesis as ways of promoting speech and thought. So, if I encounter someone who is able lead the way in discerning such natural unity and diversity, I follow in that person s footsteps as I would a god. Only the gods know whether I give such people the right name or not, but I call them dialecticians.Plato s dialogues frequently treat several topics and show their connection to each other. The Phaedrus is a model of that skill because of its seamless progression from examples of speeches about the nature of love to mythical visions of human nature and destiny to the essence of beauty and, finally, to a penetrating discussion of speaking and writing. It ends with an examination of the love of wisdom as a dialectical activity in the human mind. Phaedrus lures Socrates outside the walls of Athens, where he seldom goes, by promising to share a new work by his friend and mentor Lysias, a famous writer of speeches. This dialogue provides a powerful example of the dialectical writing that Plato uses to manifest ideas that are essential to human existence and to living a good life. The Phaedrus shows how oral and written forms of language relate to each other and to philosophy. It simultaneously embodies the entire process in some of the greatest poetry ever written. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Without deepest contemplation of the Soul, all is in error.
_I have heard some call this work a confused jumble of unrelated concepts. These people just didn't get it. There is one unified theme to the Phaedrus: without a deep connection to the soul and to the higher Reality only accessible to the soul, then all human endeavors are in error.

_The first part of the dialogue deals with three speeches on the topic of love. This is used only as an example and is not the primary theme (though it is an extremely thorough and compelling examination of the subject.) The first speech (by Lysias) is clearly in error- it is badly composed, badly reasoned, and supports what is clearly the wrong conclusion. The second speech (by Socrates), while an impeccable model of correct rhetoric, and reaching the correct conclusion is also essentially flawed- for it makes no appeal to the deepest fundamental causes of things. Simply put, it lacks soul. The third argument (attributed to Stesichorus) however, delves deeply into the soul. In fact, the core of the argument is centered around the proof of the existence and nature of the soul. That is the consistency here- unless you are Philosopher enough to have looked deeply within your own soul, to have made contact (recollection) with ultimate Reality (Justice, Wisdom, Beauty, Temperance, etc.) then your arguments are just empty words- even if you are accidentally on the correct side.

_The second part of the dialogue concentrates on showing how true rhetoric is more than "empty rhetoric" (i.e. just clever arguments and tricks used to sway the masses.) True rhetoric is shown to literally be the art of influencing the soul through words. It also reads as the perfect description, and damnation, of modern politics and the legal system. No wonder Socrates was condemned to later take poison- he actually BELIEVED in Justice, Truth, and the Good. As a Philosopher he could not compromise on such things for he knew the profound damage and that it would do to his soul and to its "wings."

Brilliant Scholarship
The central problem to any work of literature or philosophy is that of contextualization. Authors do not write in a cultural vacuum by rather in a complex socio-cultural milieu. The further we are removed in time from the author the more out of context the work appears. Plato wrote the Phaedrus for a fifth century BC audience but we as modern readers are no longer familiar with the culture, language, mores, religion, and values of that period.

Scully’s version of the Phaedrus is a masterpiece of modern scholarship. His lucid introduction sets the stage and background for the dialogue. He clearly articulates the practice of pederasty that would have been easily recognizable to Plato’s contemporaries but is completely foreign to us. His footnotes combined are probably longer than the text itself. They include clarification of cultural practices, ancient Greek technological innovations, religious practices, politics, historical figures, problems with translations, and much more.

Scully says, “the two main themes of the Phaedrus are rhetoric and love, and therein lies the difficulty.” He takes each major section of the dialogue and puts in back into context and in doing so he clearly demonstrates the relationship between the two thereby putting an end to the critics of the Phaedrus who claim that the dialogue is disjointed, or is “ruptured”.Scully’s brilliant scholarship puts Plato’s masterpiece into context so that as modern readers we can appreciate Plato’s brilliance.
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Product Description
Adult learners of ancient Greek are often attracted to it by the prospect of being able to read in the original a particular author or genre such as Homer or Greek tragedy. But it is perhaps Greek philosophical writing and Plato in particular that is the commonest target. This book's material has been tried and tested over a number of years with adult classes, and can be used as a text book on courses leading to that goal, or as a handbook for self-teaching.

Each of 25 sections is clearly laid out with tabulation of Greek accidence (word-forms), then of syntax (grammar and sentence-structure). Each includes ample exercises and practice in reading Greek sentences. Readings in later sections consist of passages of continuous Greek from Plato's Meno. In this typical Platonic dramatic dialogue, one that is often used to introduce students to Socratic dialectic, Socrates leads Meno, a Thessalian aristocrat who visited Athens at the very end of the fifth century BC , in an exploration of the question of whether arete (virtue) is something that can be taught. By the end of the course the conscientious user will have read the first half of the dialogue and should, with the help of an annotated edition (Sharples' 2004 edn is recommended), be able to complete the Meno and move on to more ambitious reading such as the Republic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Get this book!
Beetham is brilliant! He really knows how to get you to read Greek.Ordinarily, I'd say that Plato is a bit ambitious for the beginning student, but Beetham makes it more than manageable.Every step along the way (really, every step) he stops to give you practice.The learning vocabulary (and Platonic idioms) are used over and over again in the exercises, and the the readings from Plato themselves are accompanied by very fulsome notes. Critical for the student learning on his or her own, there is a *complete* answer key.Also, for someone who's learned Greek once upon a time and is looking for a means to recover it, there couldn't possibly be a better book.

The typesetting is not the best (a very small complaint given just how good this textbook is!), though it is worlds better than his Beginning Greek With Homer (also a very good book, BTW!).Since the paradigms in the back of the book are quite spread out, you might also want to get Greek Paradigm Handbook, for handy reference. An English translation of Plato's Meno will come in handy about a third of the way through the book, as well. The author suggests either Sharples's Plato: Meno (Aris & Phillips Classical Texts) or W. R. M. Lamb's Plato: Laches, Protagoras, Meno, Euthydemus, (Loeb Classical Library, No. 165) (Greek and English Edition).

user friendly book that makes Plato a little easier
Plato's Greek is tough but wonderful.Beetham gives you lots of support in getting to the point where you can read the Meno.His explanations are simple and his is one of the few Greek text books which includes an answer key.His font is large.One of the better Greek text books for beginners.The combination of Plato being difficult and Beetham being easy is very helpful if you want to improve your Greek .

Greek language and culture
This book is a gem! Besides the language, the author teaches Greek culture and philosophy. It's a modern book, well-paced, serious but not stern, honest and easy to follow. Very good exercises and answers are provided.
After all, in the end you'll be reading Plato, and this alone surpasses any other book on the subject! ... Read more

Product Description
This long awaited new edition contains seven of the dialogues of Plato, and is the first in the five-volume complete edition of Plato's works in the Oxford Classical Texts series. The result of many years of painstaking scholarship, the new volume will replace the now nearly one hundred-year-old original edition, and is destined to become just as long lasting a classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Definitive Classical Text
These Oxford editions are the definitive Greek texts for Plato's entire body of work. They are the culmination of a vast tradition of scholarly erudition. They include not only a fine edition of the texts, but also an extensive critical apparatus in the footnotes in which alternate readings adopted by other editors are listed. In effect, in this edition, you get the whole history of all other editions of Plato.

Oxford is in the process of putting out a new set of re-edited Plato's. These represent the latest trends in scholarly thought on Plato. However they do not represent any new discoveries--they are only a new set of editorial decisions by a new editor, but the same old material. The new set look quite good so far, but the older edition (By John Burnet, or Ioannes Burnet in Latin) are not rendered obsolete or out of date by this one. My personal preference is for the older Burnet edition. ... Read more

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Set immediately prior to the trial and execution of Socrates in 399 BC, Theaetetus shows the great philosopher considering the nature of knowledge itself, in a debate with the geometrician Theodorus and his young follower Theaetetus. Their dialogue covers many questions, such as: is knowledge purely subjective, composed of the ever-changing flow of impressions we receive from the outside world? Is it better thought of as true belief'? Or is it, as many modern philosophers argue, justified true belief', in which the belief is supported by argument or evidence? With skill and eloquence, Socrates guides the debate, drawing out the implications of these theories and subjecting them to merciless and mesmerising criticism. One of the founding works of epistemology, this profound discussion of the problem of knowledge continues to intrigue and inspire. ... Read more

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Founding Epistemology
Plato's Theatetus is considered the originary work of epistemological inquiry. Wittgenstein looked to this dialogue as a major source for epistemological problematics in his later philosophy, and it continues to be studied in the continental tradition as well. Socrates and Theatetus attempt to resolve the problem of defining knowledge-first by examining knowledge as a a mode of perception, then through in investigation of knowledge as correct judgment. Socrates and Theatetus give an account of the true role of 'legein' logos and speech in the final sections of the dialogue. Although nothing is resolved the basic problems of epistemology are formulated, and they remain alive to the present day.

An Early Study of Epistemology
What is knowledge?That is the issue taken up in "Theaetetus", this dialogue from ancient Greece which is one of the seminal investigations of epistemology, the study of knowledge.In the dialogue, Socrates, Theodorus, and Theaetetus examine whether everyone's individual perceptions can be regarded as knowledge, or if knowledge must consist of either a true belief or a true belief plus a rational account.

The interlocutors do not reach a definitive conclusion concerning what knowledge is, but the dialogue is still well worth reading in the English-speaking world in the early twenty-first century, a place and time in which it is hotly debated whether truth and knowledge are absolute or relative.The final half of this volume is an interpretive essay by Robin Waterfield that discusses the dialogue and its implications, in many places comparing "Theaetetus" with other Platonic works. ... Read more

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Plato remains, to this day, one of the most brilliant writers of philosophy and literature! ... Read more

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A translation of Plato's "Symposium" which aims to bring this text to life for modern readers. There is also a commentary which not only discusses Plato's philosophy and the world of Greek antiquity but also provides insights into 20th-century philosophical concerns. ... Read more

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Everymans banquet
Plato's Symposium is, at least in my opinion, one of the best works of the Western philosophical school.
Like most of his dialogs, it reads like a novel but packs more challeges than a small encyclopedia;unless you have a vey advanced education in philo ( and perhaps even then) you will benefit from the comentaries of an expert, which is exactly what you get here.
I found the exerxise more enjoyable if you read the original for a bit and then go and review what prof R. E. Allen has to say, then reflect upon it a bit and then carry on to the end of the next section and start all over agin.
After you finish you will want to read the original again, non stop, and have a great experience all over again.
This is a great translation with inteligent comentaries, a most for anyone interested in Plato and the Socratic lore.

The place to start
This was the first book I read on Symposium, and I was glad. Later when I wanted to know more I moved on to Rosen and Dover, but if all you want to do is read the Symposium with a commentary, this is the place to start.Allen gives you just enough detail to be enlightening, without swampingyou. If you want to be swamped, read Rosen (not that being swamped isnecessarily a bad thing). If you want to be entertained, read Allen. ... Read more

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Perhaps the greatest of all philosophers, the work of such diverse thinkers as Aristotle, Kant, and Nietzsche can be traced to his influence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Author should have done more homework.
I've read the Socratic Dialogues of Plato, and this introduction is not on beat-- sometimes questionable and inaccurate. The author just doesn't know enough about these dialogues i believe and should have gotten more scholarly incite. The author even states it at times when he says discusses the Phaedrus, "Plato's attack on writing seem odd, given that it is a written argument." This might be due to Plato's viewpoint on Sparta, Sparta didn't reduce their conduct to writing, they knew it by heart. Also, speech, and conversation helps people come to truth and find a common agreement-- Plato, subtly hints to this in the last part of the Phaedrus when Phaedrus says, "Friends have all things in common."

At the end of the book, the author labels Plato a, "dogmatic elitist" this is unprofessional and then tries to double step with other viewpoints describing Plato as a flip flopper, meanwhile never grasping at the matter of what he was trying to truly give us: notice Plato never puts himself in the dialogues-- its a way of life, not a religion. These dialogues are suppose to continue, and he makes that clear in the Phaedo when Socrates is put to death.

I could go over each dialogue and tell you how he fudged every one up by either bias opinion or mistaken interpretation.

If you want to know Plato and Socrates, read the dialogues, they are a pleasure to read. Socrates isn't a person who just refutes everything, he isn't a sophist himself, he is just trying to get Athens to question itself after losing a war to the Spartans, which he fought bravely in for Athens. He wants the Athenians to know themselves, and ask themselves what went wrong-- How did the greatest city state lose this war. He is after truth, not just negating it, but its not about him, its about the whole of Athens which is why Socrates goes from person to person, using heuristics, this is a method where he guides questions so they come to their own conclusion.

Actually Criticizes Plato
To my surprise, the author expresses strongly negative opinions towards some of Plato's conclusions, while maintaining that Plato "asked the right questions."

The author presents Plato as a proto-fascist. Plato's theories of the forms are muddled, and Aristotle was wise to clarify or dispense with them. Laws was a horrid work which formed an unfortunate ending to Plato's writings.

I find the author's opinions to be eminently reasonable. His views represent a common-sense approach to Plato. The author, too, asks the right questions.

Plato in a Nutshell
The book is great at giving a feel for who the whole of Plato was as a person.The book is not so great at explaining all of the theories of Plato.The book is somewhat educational.Sometimes the writing is slanted. Sometimes the jokes are too obtuse.The author is often mocking the philospher more than adoring him.But, it's entertaining none the less.

Great introduction to one of the fathers of philosophy
Make sure to read the Aristotle book first, then hit this one.Two good reads.

Recommended for students of Objectivism
I read "Introducing Plato" last night.I picked it up at the book store because Plato is referenced repeatedly in "Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand". "Introducing Plato" covers many of the ancient Greek philosophers of the period and shows how they influenced or were influenced by Plato. It covers his life, his philosophy, and his influence through the ages.

By reading "Introducing Plato", I now have a far better understanding of Objectivist philosophy. Before I read this book, I found some of Rand's terminology a bit odd but now I realize that she was engaged in a conversation with the ancient philosophers that I had walked in on toward the end. I also see where she agrees and where she deviates with them on the important questions. I would recommend "Introducing Plato" to any student of Objectivism that has not previously studied the ancients.

Ayn Rand was no fan of Plato. She prefers to praise Aristotle, his student of twenty years. I see that a second edition of "Introducing Aristotle" in coming out in 2006 August. I am looking forward to it. ... Read more

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Essential Keys to Plato
You'd think that after 24 centuries there might not be a whole lot of new things to say about Plato, but Zuckert makes startling discoveries about the Platonic corpus that everyone else seems to have overlooked. The first bombshell is that chronologically (in terms of when it was supposed to take place) Laws is the very first dialogue, not the last as many scholars have assumed. Since there's no mention of the Peloponnesian War, it must take place before 431, and in fact a close look shows that the Athenian Stranger's views are all rooted in pre-Socratic philosophy. Zuckert's clear, detailed, well substantiated argument about Laws got me hooked, and I ended up reading the entire 862 pages with interest and enjoyment--at the same time going over many of Plato's dialogues again.

Having read several essays on Plato by Leo Strauss, Zuckert's teacher, and his other followers, I was familiar with the idea that the argument of each dialogue emerges in tandem with the unfolding of the action, as well as the idea that the narrative structure (narrated by Socrates, told by a third person, not narrated, etc.) is related to the theme. Zuckert's approach, encompassing as it does the entire corpus, also makes clear the significance of the dramatic dates. For example, when we see that Lysis takes place years after Symposium and Phaedrus, we find that it "contains a critique of both the definitions of love presented in the two earlier dialogues" (p. 511). So what has sometimes been pigeonholed as a "minor" dialogue comes alive in the discussion of an important topic.

By looking at the dialogues in sequence we get a better sense of who Socrates is and how his thought developed (according to Plato, of course): the stripling struggling with Parmenides; the brash young man taking Protagoras down a couple notches with his hard questions; the confident thinker expounding a positive teaching in Symposium and Republic; the father figure seeking to benefit Theages and Meno; and finally the wise man facing his biological and intellectual limits in the dialogues around the time of the trial. The dialogues featuring Timaeus and the Eleatic philosopher offer contrasts that help us understand more deeply what Socrates is all about.

Although Zuckert follows in the footsteps of Strauss, who wrote that each of Plato's dialogues had to be understood in the context of the whole, she has a good grasp of the full gamut of research literature on Plato, not just Straussian, and a fine bibliography. Also unlike Strauss, she states what she thinks very clearly, and, moreover, in prose generally free of technical and academic terms. She is the worthy student of a great teacher, and this work marks an important new beginning in Platonic studies.

A paradigm shift in Plato studies
Prof. Zuckert offers in this amazing piece of scholarship a full review of Plato's Dialogues, from the perspective of their literary setting. The author's hermeneutical commitment is clear: A single dialogue can only be interpreted against the background of the complete set of Plato's Dialogues. And the entire collection of Plato's Dialogues cannot be understood based on compositional criteria, according to which there would be juvenile, transitional, mature, critical and old-age dialogues. Instead Zuckert follows the trend established by authors like Jacob Howland and Drew A. Hyland that reads the Dialogues in the dramatological order derived from their literary contents. However, Zuckert goes farther than previous scholars and proposes a comprehensive reading of the whole corpus. This reading makes manifest the originating motives of Socrates' engagement with philosophy, how it developed itself through successive stages, and what limits had eventually to confront. The table of contents can offer a glimpse of the wide scope and deep scholarship of this book.

Introduction: Platonic dramatology (1)

Part I: The political and philosophical problems (49)

1. Using Pre-Socratic philosophy to support political reform. The Athenian Stranger (51)

2. Plato's Parmenides: Parmenides' critique of Socrates and Plato's critique of Parmenides (147)

3. Becoming Socrates (180)

4. Socrates interrogates his contemporaries about the noble and good (215)

Part II: Two paradigms of philosophy (279)

5. Socrates' positive teaching (281)

6. Timaeus-Critias: Completing or challenging Socratic political philosophy? (420)

7. Socratic practice (482)

Conclusion to Part II: What the contrast with Timaeus tells us about Socrates (586)

Part III: The trial and death of Socrates (593)

8. The limits of human intelligence (595)

9. The Eleatic challenge (680)

10. The trial and death of Socrates (736)

Conclusion: Why Plato made Socrates his hero (815)

Bibliography (863)

Index (881)
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