Plato's Shadow - A Primer on Plato
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A succinct precis of the work of one of the world's greatest thinkers ... For the newcomer or undergraduate it's a great resource, being both a celebration of and an introduction to some of the most remarkable, beautiful, provocative, powerful and vital writings in Western literature. --The Good Web Guide
This book provides a tremendously useful service to anyone studying Plato, or to the more general reader who might otherwise struggle to make headway unaided ... [It is] an essential addition to the library of any serious student of Plato's philosophy - which, given his undiminished importance, should be every philosopher! --PhilosophyOnline
An invaluable, indispensible guide that avoids the usual one-sided approach to Plato ... even the ordering of the dialogues makes sense. I shall certainly be recommending it to my students. --Dr Alan Cardew, University of Essex
This book provides a tremendously useful service to anyone studying Plato, or to the more general reader who might otherwise struggle to make headway unaided ... [It is] an essential addition to the library of any serious student of Plato's philosophy - which, given his undiminished importance, should be every philosopher! --PhilosophyOnline
An invaluable, indispensible guide that avoids the usual one-sided approach to Plato ... even the ordering of the dialogues makes sense. I shall certainly be recommending it to my students. --Dr Alan Cardew, University of Essex
Product Description
This book provides the student and general reader with a comprehensive overview of the thought of Plato, Socrates, and the pre-Socratic philosophers. It includes an introduction to their lives and times, and - for the first time - a precis of each of Plato's dialogues, amongst which the Apology, Laches, Gorgias, Symposium, Phaedrus, Phaedo, Meno, Timaeus, Theaetetus, Republic, and 18 others. Please see the table of contents.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book, which is written with great style and lucidity, makes Plato seem almost easy. As far as I'm aware, it's the first book that systematically covers the main arguments in each and every Platonic dialogue. This enables one to build a complete picture of Plato's thought and to trace its evolution over time (the dialogues are presented in their approximate order of composition). The condensed format makes the book `high-yield' and really brings out Plato's train of thought, making it easier both to appreciate and to criticise. Despite the condensed format, much of the aesthetic appeal of the original has been preserved in the author's elegant writing and judiciously chosen quotations. The introductory section is useful and entertaining, particularly the chapter on the pre-Socratic philosophers, which is written with panache and humour, as, for example, in the following passage:
"In contrast to Heraclitus of Ephesus, who was referred to as `the weeping philosopher', Democritus of Abdera was referred to as the `laughing philosopher' because he was ever ready to laugh at the foolishness of people. The term 'Abderitan laughter' - scoffing, incessant laughter - derives from him. Despite this, people held him in high esteem, not least because they thought that he could predict the future. Like all early Greek philosophers, he eschewed wealth and power for a good life and a prominent place in the history of human thought; he once said that he would prefer to discover one true scientific principle than to become king of Persia."
If any one book is going to fulfil Alan Bloom's dream that all university graduates be acquainted with Plato, then this is certainly it. Highly recommended.
"In contrast to Heraclitus of Ephesus, who was referred to as `the weeping philosopher', Democritus of Abdera was referred to as the `laughing philosopher' because he was ever ready to laugh at the foolishness of people. The term 'Abderitan laughter' - scoffing, incessant laughter - derives from him. Despite this, people held him in high esteem, not least because they thought that he could predict the future. Like all early Greek philosophers, he eschewed wealth and power for a good life and a prominent place in the history of human thought; he once said that he would prefer to discover one true scientific principle than to become king of Persia."
If any one book is going to fulfil Alan Bloom's dream that all university graduates be acquainted with Plato, then this is certainly it. Highly recommended.
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