The Open Society and Its Enemies: Volume 1: The Spell of Plato (Routledge Classics): Vol 1 [Paperback]

Even before the argument begins there is a stark example of what is to come. Two quotes; one by Pericles the other by Plato, immediately illustrate what the book is going to be like. The second quote is so horrifically totalitarian that it is shocking to see it comes from Plato. Because it is pointed out that both men where from Athens, and were separated by only about 80 years the effect is even more striking.

Put simply, Popper outlines Plato’s ideas and explains why he believes that many of them are fundamentally anti-democratic and authoritarian, even totalitarian. Plato attacks were due to his dissatisfaction with the ever changing material world and with the open, abstract society that democratic Athens was becoming – that our society has become.

In the book "Introducing Political Philosophy" Dave Robinson points out the more common objections against Popper's criticism, that his argument is retrospective and philosophers such as Plato cannot be blamed for the later abuse of their ideas. It’s certainly true that Popper doesn’t mince his words in this book; clearly stating the ways in which many of Plato’s beliefs are totalitarian, at one point he goes as far to say that Plato’s ideas regarding education and Philosopher Kings are a betrayal of the memory of his mentor Socrates. However, Popper never goes too over the top. You constantly get the sense that Popper knows what he is talking about and his strong opinions only serve to make the book more enjoyable. Besides this Popper appears to have already answered the problems pointed by critics like Robinson; an example of this is when Popper points out that Plato's concept of justice is not only unjust by modern definitions but would also have been so in the eyes of ancient Athenians. If it is true that Plato’s ideas could have been seen as authoritarian at the time as well as from a modern view surely it would be unfair to criticize Popper argument for being retrospective.

Whatever the case, it is definitely an interesting argument and the clear and systematic way in which Popper sets out this and the other points of his argument is what makes this book so satisfying. Everything has a purpose, which Popper outlines before hand, so that you never get the feeling you are reading the meaningless rambling that many philosophy books fall into. An example would be Sartre's “Being and Nothingness”, which although an important book with several interesting ideas too often becomes bogged down in repetition and obtuse phrases.

Indeed such charge could be levelled at much of Plato’s writing. Because some people do not like the way in which Plato writes I would go as far as to recommend “Open Society…” as a good introduction to Plato’s major ideas. Particularly as I thought the Writers and Readers book “Plato for Beginners” was below average for a series that I would usually recommend for people looking for clear, easy to read introduction to different philosophers.

I think the Routledge Classics edition of Popper’s “Open Society…” is probably the best available because it is well made with good typeset and at £10 is good value for money. However, be aware that about half of this edition is taken up with notes. I did not mind this, it gives the reader a choice: to leave them out in which case the book is quite a quick, but still effecting read – or to have the extra detail. I haven’t read them completely but they seem quite interesting.

Another book I would recommend that deals with similar themes to Popper’s is “The Fear of Freedom” by Erich Fromm. It looks at the ways in which living in an open society (similar to the society Popper tries to defend against the attacks of Plato) and the freedoms this entails can put psychological pressures on people that they often try to escape, and the various methods they use.

The effort I’ve put into this review as well as its content should put across that I thought this book was well worth reading. I am certainly going to buy the second volume and would recommend to anyone at all interested in philosophy the buy the first.