The Socratic Dialogues: The Early Dialogues of Plato

by Plato, Benjamin Jowett (Translator)

Embark on an unparalleled journey through the mind of Plato, one of history's most influential philosophers. This comprehensive collection, divided into four distinct volumes, provides a sweeping overview of Platonic thought. From the probing questions of Socrates to the idealistic visions of Plato's later works, each volume opens new insights into ethics, politics, metaphysics, and more. Together, they form a monumental testament to human reason and wisdom. Whether you are an established scholar or a curious newcomer to philosophy, this collection offers an essential exploration of the ideas that have shaped Western thought.
The Socratic The Early Dialogues of Plato (Volume 1)
The Platonist The Transitional Dialogues of Plato (Volume 2)
The Cosmological The Late Dialogues of Plato (Volume 3)
The Apocryphal The Disputed Dialogues of Plato (Volume 4)

386 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2023

About the author

Plato (Greek: Πλάτων), born Aristocles (c. 427 – 348 BC), was an ancient Greek philosopher of the Classical period who is considered a foundational thinker in Western philosophy and an innovator of the written dialogue and dialectic forms. He raised problems for what became all the major areas of both theoretical philosophy and practical philosophy, and was the founder of the Platonic Academy, a philosophical school in Athens where Plato taught the doctrines that would later become known as Platonism.
Plato's most famous contribution is the theory of forms (or ideas), which has been interpreted as advancing a solution to what is now known as the problem of universals. He was decisively influenced by the pre-Socratic thinkers Pythagoras, Heraclitus, and Parmenides, although much of what is known about them is derived from Plato himself.
Along with his teacher Socrates, and Aristotle, his student, Plato is a central figure in the history of philosophy. Plato's entire body of work is believed to have survived intact for over 2,400 years—unlike that of nearly all of his contemporaries. Although their popularity has fluctuated, they have consistently been read and studied through the ages. Through Neoplatonism, he also greatly influenced both Christian and Islamic philosophy. In modern times, Alfred North Whitehead famously said: "the safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato."