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Product Description
Outstanding translations by leading contemporary scholars -- many commissioned especially for this volume -- are presented here in the first single edition to include the entire surviving corpus of works attributed to Plato in antiquity. In his introductory essay, John Cooper explains the presentation of these works, discusses questions concerning the chronology of their composition, comments on the dialogue form in which Plato wrote, and offers guidance on approaching the reading and study of Plato's works. Also included are concise introductions to each translation, meticulous annotation designed to serve both scholar and general reader, and a comprehensive index. This handsome volume offers fine paper and a high-quality Smyth-sewn cloth binding in a sturdy elegant edition.
About the Author
Plato; Edited by John M Cooper
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It took me months to read through all the way to the end (I also take notes as I read) but I got there in the end. I found the short introductions to each piece extremely helpful for putting the dialogues into context as well as stimulating my own thoughts about the text as a whole. It's a fantastic journey as you sink into the wisdom that lies within the dialogues. In the end, of course, you are left to decide for yourself. There is no doubt about the fact that Plato is a genius. The build-up toward "The Republic" is so intellectually intense, as you are left with so many unanswered questions from the previous dialogues, that when it finally comes to reading "The Republic" you will feel like a ton of wisdom has just exploded in your face. You will come to appreciate the subtleties of the philosopher's style and the kind of wisdom Plato is hinting at with even the tiniest of details once you have been "initiated" by the "earlier" dialogues. Much of Plato's works are also, in one way or another, hinted at throughout many of the great books and disciplines of today. There is something deep and special about Plato's dialogues. Not only are they enjoyable to read but they are intellectually stimulating. May they enlighten you and help you to think for yourself.
61 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a gorgeous, excellent and complete edition of all works which are generally ascribed to Plato, or attributed to him in antiquity. But it's too big to read in the bath, which is the ideal place to read Greek philosophers.
It is the only complete works of its kind, and most of the translations were commissioned specially for it. It contains a mercifully short introduction, which is primarily an introduction to the volume as presented, not an introduction to Plato (more on that in a moment), brief introductions to each work, a fairly minimalist approach to footnotes - largely confined to textual or translation notes, references to ancient authors, and a very few essential explanations - and a good index. Interestingly, it contains a page telling you that the typeface is Palatino, which is a good choice, followed by fifteen blank pages. Again, mercifully, they have not printed 'notes' above these blank pages, since no-one should really be encouraged to write in this beautiful volume.
Alfred North Whitehead* suggested that the entire history of Western Philosophy was a set of footnotes to Plato. The publishers have wisely decided to follow Plato's pupil Aristotle's premise that only those things should be included which could not be left out, since if they had chosen to include all those things which could be usefully added, the book would run to many volumes and would lose most of its usefulness. Even so, at 1850 or so pages, this is about as big as any volume can usefully be if you intend to read it rather than just occasionally refer to it.
At the age I am now at, I am astonished that nobody made me read Plato at school. It seems to me that I would have done much better both at A-level and university if I had read it, and would not have airily referred to 'Platonism' or 'Platonic' as if it could all be summed up on one side of a sheet of A4, and everyone would know exactly what I was talking about. I suspect, though, that the sheer scale of his works was one of the reasons why nobody did.
And this is, as I have probably already alluded to, the problem with a complete works of this kind: it is too heavy to read in the bath, or on the train, and exudes the kind of presence that one would naturally ascribe to 'great philosophy'. This is regrettable: Plato's Socrates is one of the freshest, most direct and appealing characters in all of literature. He leaps straight off the page, jumping through two thousand four hundred years of history as if it were nothing. He is never dry, never dull, and never anything other than surprising.
Because of its size and price, this book is probably going to be bought by academics who already know what it contains, and libraries, and, worst of all, be a standard on the list of school or university prizes. This is a pity: I would genuinely recommend it to any enquiring mind, but especially to the under 20s, who are in many ways Socrates's intended audience. And herein lies the paradox. We come to this volume to find Plato, but we stay to spend time with Socrates.
--
*Thanks Sam C for the correction
It is the only complete works of its kind, and most of the translations were commissioned specially for it. It contains a mercifully short introduction, which is primarily an introduction to the volume as presented, not an introduction to Plato (more on that in a moment), brief introductions to each work, a fairly minimalist approach to footnotes - largely confined to textual or translation notes, references to ancient authors, and a very few essential explanations - and a good index. Interestingly, it contains a page telling you that the typeface is Palatino, which is a good choice, followed by fifteen blank pages. Again, mercifully, they have not printed 'notes' above these blank pages, since no-one should really be encouraged to write in this beautiful volume.
Alfred North Whitehead* suggested that the entire history of Western Philosophy was a set of footnotes to Plato. The publishers have wisely decided to follow Plato's pupil Aristotle's premise that only those things should be included which could not be left out, since if they had chosen to include all those things which could be usefully added, the book would run to many volumes and would lose most of its usefulness. Even so, at 1850 or so pages, this is about as big as any volume can usefully be if you intend to read it rather than just occasionally refer to it.
At the age I am now at, I am astonished that nobody made me read Plato at school. It seems to me that I would have done much better both at A-level and university if I had read it, and would not have airily referred to 'Platonism' or 'Platonic' as if it could all be summed up on one side of a sheet of A4, and everyone would know exactly what I was talking about. I suspect, though, that the sheer scale of his works was one of the reasons why nobody did.
And this is, as I have probably already alluded to, the problem with a complete works of this kind: it is too heavy to read in the bath, or on the train, and exudes the kind of presence that one would naturally ascribe to 'great philosophy'. This is regrettable: Plato's Socrates is one of the freshest, most direct and appealing characters in all of literature. He leaps straight off the page, jumping through two thousand four hundred years of history as if it were nothing. He is never dry, never dull, and never anything other than surprising.
Because of its size and price, this book is probably going to be bought by academics who already know what it contains, and libraries, and, worst of all, be a standard on the list of school or university prizes. This is a pity: I would genuinely recommend it to any enquiring mind, but especially to the under 20s, who are in many ways Socrates's intended audience. And herein lies the paradox. We come to this volume to find Plato, but we stay to spend time with Socrates.
--
*Thanks Sam C for the correction
66 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
One of the most comprehensive collections available, this edition includes works of disputed origin, which should be of interest nonetheless to the proper philosopher, since they remain equally interesting, even if not so clearly attributable to Plato. This new translation also includes copious footnotes explaining much of the multifaceted complexities that are present in the ancient Greek language.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fast delivery.
Good quick delivery and good packaging. A shame that some black marks inside cover but my choice not to return and other than that book in good condition. Excellent book.
Published 27 days ago by Jim
Fantastic!
This book is a joy to have and hold, and even better to read. I'm pacing myself, from first page to last, in small sittings. The old "little and often" approach. Read more
Published 10 months ago by paintbrush
What more can be said?
Plato's works speak for themselves. I know you can get a lot of the material for free on the internet or in little (and cheaper pamphlets) but frankly the hardback is put together... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Wassim
Well-presented, well-translated, skimpy on apparatus
This edition of Plato's Works is much needed - Complete Works are rarely released for the Philosopher's own teacher - and it's well worth the price tag if one is interested in his... Read more
Published 16 months ago by OC Edwards
Unbeatable value!
At just over 20 quid for 1800 pages this is by far the most economical way to buy Plato. The only downside is that it is not a full critical edition, for which you'd have to go to... Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2010 by Gareth Greenwood
All handed on a silver Plate-O
For the price this book is outstanding, worth way more if you consider how much each individual work of Plato's would cost. Read more
Published on 1 July 2009 by Russ Vale
This is the business!
This is the edition of Plato that you would have as required reading on an English medium Greek philosophy course. Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2007 by Michael J. Brett
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