Platón de Atenas: Una vida en la filosofía

by Robin Waterfield, Vicente Campos González (Traductor)

Pocos se atreverían a afirmar que Platón sea el único padre de la filosofía, pero eso es lo que se defiende en este libro, siguiendo la línea del filósofo inglés Alfred North Whitehead cuando afirmó que «la historia de la filosofía occidental no es más que una serie de notas al pie de página de Platón».

Pese a todo, se sabe muy poco del hombre que fue Platón, y no se ha escrito ninguna biografía merecedora de tal nombre en los últimos siglos. Robin Waterfield asume el reto de redactar la tan necesaria biografía y traza un vívido retrato que, sin renunciar al rigor académico, nos aclara cuánto se sabe de la acaudalada familia del filósofo, de sus amigos y sus posibles amores, y de sus relaciones políticas en una Atenas en plena guerra del Peloponeso, una ciudad que bullía en ideas y atraía a estudiantes de todo el mundo griego en busca de los conocimientos que regalaban o vendían sofistas, pitagóricos y la embrionaria Academia de Platón. Una perfecta introducción al hombre y su tiempo, una biografía que no solo ilumina una nueva perspectiva sobre el filósofo, sino que anima a la lectura de sus obras.

Genres: Philosophy, Biography, History, Nonfiction, Greece, Ancient History, Ancient

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

Robin Anthony Herschel Waterfield (born 1952) is a British classical scholar, translator, editor, and writer of children's fiction. Waterfield was born in 1952, and studied Classics at Manchester University, where he achieved a first class degree in 1974. He went on to research ancient Greek philosophy at King's College, Cambridge until 1978, after which he became a lecturer at Newcastle University and then St Andrews University. He later became a copy-editor and later a commissioning editor for Penguin Books. He is now a self-employed writer, living in southern Greece, where he has Greek citizenship.

Reviews

[Sense of History]

I had already read two books on ancient Greece by the classicist Robin Waterfield (b. 1952), and both were solid yet highly readable introductions. This third book, concerning the philosopher Plato (c. 425–347 BCE), is equally impressive. While it naturally is a biography, it is inevitably also an introduction to Plato’s thought and his enduring legacy. Once again, Waterfield demonstrates a profound knowledge of both Greek philosophy and the history of classical Greece.

I found the author’s insights into the evolution of Plato’s thought particularly fascinating. Standard introductions to philosophy usually present his ideas as a monolithic whole, whereas—judging by Waterfield’s account—distinct shifts are clearly discernible. The famous Socratic dialogues, for instance, date primarily from Plato’s early period and are strongly apologetic in nature, illustrating Socrates' aporia-technique (showing that we really know nothing). However, the renowned Theory of Forms (most notably the famous allegory of the cave) appears to be somewhat tempered in Plato’s later work, likely influenced in part by criticism from his own students, such as Aristotle.

Waterfield demonstrates that Plato’s political ideas, in particular, underwent a significant evolution, partly shaped by his disillusioning experiences in Sicily. Admittedly, he never became a proponent of the democratic system; to the end of his life, he continued to attribute the execution of his mentor, Socrates, to that regime—and largely rightly so. Yet, while in his early political works he argued at length for a form of enlightened despotism (admittedly an awkward anachronism), his later writings are dominated by calls for a well-developed legislative framework—a state governed by the rule of law, so to speak (again, an anachronism).

Is this, then, the definitive biography of Plato? Of course not: I dislike such labels in general, and in Plato’s case, the task is all but impossible. For, as is true of many aspects of ancient history, the source material is simply too limited and unreliable. Naturally, regarding Plato, we are blessed with an exceptional body of his own writings from which inferences can be drawn (as Waterfield demonstrates). However, the actual biographical material often dates from long after Plato’s lifetime and is frequently steeped in myth—whether of a positive or negative nature. Waterfield, too, is sometimes compelled to cite authors who lived centuries after Plato, though fortunately, he does so with the necessary caution.

[Massimo Pigliucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Waterfield has long been one of the leadings translators and interpreters of ancient Greco-Roman thought, and this latest book proves the point once more. Astonishingly, there was no modern biography of Plato before Waterfield's, so this is a much needed contribution indeed. The author has translated Plato, so he has a deep knowledge of the language and the philosophy, as well as of course of the time and place in which Plato lived. Waterfield is careful, whenever possible, to distinguish dubious anecdotes from historical likelihoods, is reasonably but not excessively critical of the ancient sources, and provides us with explanations for why he reaches certainly conclusions rather than others about various aspects of Plato's life and philosophy. This is a must read not just for those interested in Greco-Roman thought, or in philosophy, but for every thinking person. As Waterfield writes near the end of the book: “Plato opened up infinite possibilities for the future of philosophy ... for any of us who think and who care about what we are and what we may become, as individuals and as the human species. ... He founded the Academy, a school that perpetuated philosophy for almost a thousand years. Plato’s life was truly a life in the service of philosophy, and that is why his life should still matter to us. The big questions do not go away.”

[Andrew Dockrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an introduction to robin Waterfield he certainly did a commendable job in trying to tell Plato's life story in chronological order while also embracing the fact that we know little about him and what is left like much of what is left to us in history is replaced by our western tradition of the man.

He did a fairly good job in painting a picture of what his upbringing would have been like being what essentially would today be our 1% as he was wealthy all of his life, owning multiple estates and contributing to Athenian festivals as one of the wealthy in the city. It was also nice to get a plausible picture of the emergence of Socrates who Plato was drawn to very quickly as both an intellectual and someone who enjoyed the arts in general. Some of this book is naturally caught up in the unfortunate guessing game of hypotheticals but it is difficult to avoid that trap. I did enjoy being introduced to the academy that Plato had built just outside the city and served as an institution for the sharpest minds of Athens and those abroad, and how he still managed to have a successful school despite having to deal with competitor schools of philosophy that focused on philosophy that would be aimed for students who sought a political life.

While I think I will definitely need to give the book a second read to properly appreciate Waterfields explanation of Plato's philosophy, writing, and the influence Socrates had on him, I do feel that I have a better grasp on one of the greatest philosophers of the west and an abbreviated glimpse into the 4th century of Athens just enough to explain how the socio-political circumstances impacted plato. Waterfield does a fairly good job in breaking down Plato's writings and trying to explain the order in which he wrote them and trying to make his philosophy as approachable as possible. This book is absolutely intended for those who are at least familiar with Plato and his writings, if your not then you will likely find yourself lost and bogged down when Waterfields jumps down his rabbit holes in trying to discern which of Plato's writings are likely genuine as opposed to those that were likely copy cats and not all of his arguments are entirely convincing. All in all a good read though.

[LPosse1 Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin Waterfield is an epic scholar whose work has had a meaningful impact on my intellectual life—his translation of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius was especially powerful for me. So I was eager to dive into Plato of Athens, and in many ways, it delivers.

This is a weighty, meticulously researched book that offers a comprehensive look at Plato’s life, thought, and historical context. Waterfield excels in weaving together the life of Plato with the substance of his dialogues, adding his own reflections that help bring the ancient philosopher to life. I especially appreciated the sections on the formation of Plato’s Academy—a center of learning so influential that it endured for nearly a thousand years. That kind of legacy is awe-inspiring, and Waterfield captures its significance well.

Another highlight for me was the exploration of Plato’s relationship with Aristotle. The suggestion of a possible rift between the two adds an intriguing human element to the story of these towering intellectual figures. It reminded me that behind the dense philosophy are real people, with complex relationships and differing visions of the world.

That said, some parts of the book veered deep into academic rabbit holes. At times, I found myself rereading paragraphs multiple times just to grasp the thread of the argument. This isn’t a criticism of the scholarship—it’s top-notch—but more a note that this book demands patience and slow, careful reading. It’s not one to rush through.

Overall, Plato of Athens is a valuable resource for those deeply interested in classical philosophy and the life of Plato, though it may be a bit dense for the casual reader. A thoughtful and reverent portrait of one of the greatest thinkers in history.
3.5 Stars

[Erik Rostad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I was looking for. I learned about Plato's life, was introduced to each of his major dialogues, and saw how his ideas intersected with his life. I read this after reading a few of Plato's dialogues and look forward to returning to the dialogues with a better frame of reference. I highly recommend this book.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

About twenty plus years ago I read Waterfield's translation of Republic and it changed the course of my life. I was a cocky undergrad, drunk with my own sophism and rhetorical skills. The opening section of Socrates confrontation by Thrasymachus of the most basic question of all(Sorry, i dont agree with Camus on this one), why bother being good when it just makes you suspected by the people around you, makes you a target of the corrupt, and isnt it better to just seem to be good than be good?, hit me like a bullet between the eyes. The resulting conversation that makes up Republic had me literally reading every single page and thinking deeply over the questions posed and responses. A true philosophical drama, like a Greek tragedy, where who says what is as important as what they say, and the opinions they give about what we are and what is the best way to live are taken seriously.

I was forever grateful to Waterfield because he did such an admirable job of setting up each section, giving background information that would have been known to Plato's readers, and providing useful commentary and exegesis. It was a bit like having my own private Virgil walking me through the descent to the underworld of the mind that is Republic. The me that emerged at the end of the book had radically changed his ideas about what constituted the good life and how to go about achieving it.

Here he outdoes himself. The product of a lifetime of translating and thinking deeply about Plato and his project we get the Life: what did it mean to be a philosopher in Athens in the Classical Age(if you think our age's grasp of Law is sketchy, try living in classical athens where the laws can change monthly with often lethal effect), and what was his life actually like(stating his philosophic and political viewpoints that make him the target of assassinations by his political enemies). He provides insight into the world and the people who surrounded Plato. The rich and the poor, the genuine seekers after knowledge and wisdom, and the opportunists and machiavellian political schemers.

And what truly emerges is that this is a Philosophic Life. One that set the model for generations to come. A person who lived in the academy, thinking, writing, teaching and debating, but also in the real world, trying to get the tyrant of Syracuse to adopt a philosophic lifestyle, and setting up constitutions in the various city states.

The discussions of Plato's texts are insightful, and display a wealth of knowledge about ancient sources and debates, but in true Platonic style do not offer easy answers to the meanings of the texts. What he does do is offer a way on how to read Plato. For example, Plato completely fabricates the myth of Atlantis, and in doing so is borrowing an ancient stylistic technique for setting up his story: it happens in a true time and based on ancient legend. Waterfield shows how Xenophon and other writers of the period do the same thing. Plato does this not just in the Timaeus and Critias where atlantis is discussed but in other dialogues as well: putting people in discussion who couldnt possible have been in the same place and same time, and which his readers would have known.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the book was his grouping of platonic dialogues into trilogies and tetralogies. Each dialogue are mini dramas in the larger cycle whrere an idea is examind and reexamined. Here he is imitating Greek Tragedy and Comedy, where the plays often come as trilogies with a frequent addition of a satyr play as the fourth piece.

Grateful and thankful I was able to read this.

[Michael Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good little biography of the great philosopher and his works. I appreciated how the author went through the dialogues, giving his thoughts on which ones were likely not written by Plato. Also, the history of Plato with Syracuse was helpful for the context of many of Plato's letters and writings.

[B. Rule · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be great for an undergraduate-level introduction to Plato. Waterfield has a very straightforward approach. He briskly disposes of the spurious anecdotal accretions that have grown up around Plato to give an even-handed, slightly dull account of what we know of his life. In the course of the biography, you get capsule summaries of many dialogues. These summaries aren't particularly deep, but they are helpfully contextualized to give some sense of Plato's intellectual growth over time. I also enjoyed Waterfield's focus on Plato's travels to Syracuse and how his interactions with Dionysius II and Dion likely affected his political thought.

Waterfield isn't very interested in a lot of the arcana surrounding Plato, so you get cursory dismissals of "hidden doctrines" or esoteric readings of the texts. In his telling, Plato is a more earnest figure, exhorting us to a life of virtue and contemplative discussion but largely uncommitted to doctrinal philosophical positions beyond an appreciation for the intellective over the material and expertise over amateurism. It's hard to get a sense of Plato's wit or irony from this text, although glimpses of it occasionally intrude.

I appreciate the difficulty in extracting a kernel of biographical certainty from a figure sprouting so much florid mythologization as Plato, so Waterfield's project should be commended for its tight focus. However, it doesn't make for the most exciting reading experience. The primary value for me personally was in Waterfield's informed speculations on a chronological bibliography, as well as some of the political context of different periods of Plato's life. I was also convinced by his arguments on why Plato's birth year was likely later than traditionally supposed.

I would not recommend relying on this for philosophical analysis of Plato's project, nor for understanding his reception in later generations (which gets only the briefest summary here). This text has its value but frankly I'm not sure a biographical approach yields substantial fruit for this particular subject. It's a solid if stolid contribution to the endless ocean of Platonic scholia, but readers already familiar with those waters might wish for deeper dives.

[Rosalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

nooit meer.

[Hinch]

This is a really incredible book that manages to tell an engaging and lucid account of a life of which we know very little concretely. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Tristam Summers, whose narration is excellent (though I am dubious about some of his pronunciations of names).

Waterfield is very careful in telling us where sources are dubious or in disagreement, and gives sufficient context that we can picture Plato’s life, and thought, in its milieu without it ever feeling like a needless tangent.

He also takes care to dispel common myths about Plato, whilst simultaneously providing us with all of the most intriguing and interesting ones that have sprung up through history - Plato the son of Apollo, Plato who died of shame unable to answer a riddle, Plato to whom the bees gave the honey of wisdom in his youth…

Plato was not a detached thinker content to theorise on abstract subjects. Rather, he attempted to not only continue Socrates’s task of bringing philosophy down from the heavens to the earth (from detached to ethical concerns) but also put his political thought into practice - even at risk to his life - in Syracuse.

Obviously, Waterfield absolutely adores the object of his study, so perhaps some of the more glowing statements should be tempered by the reader’s understanding of that.

In general I have a new and improved appreciation of Plato, his life, and his thought. Highly recommend.

[Gijs Limonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars; excellent biography, as well as this is humanly possible; the author helpfully places the man and his philosophy in a proper historical context including the influences of the pre-socratics; highly recommended reading/listening.

[Maan Kawas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such agreat book by Mr. Waterfield!! I highly recommend!!!

[Illiterate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waterfield evaluates sources, draws on contexts, & outlines the philosophy. Highlight: chap 5 on The Academy.

[Marc Lamot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Robin Waterfield states in his introduction that this book focuses on Plato’s life rather than his philosophy, the Greek sage’s thought—and thus his philosophy—inevitably comes through. Waterfield’s strength lies in his ability to capture Plato’s evolution, spanning his writings, his role as an educator (through the Academy he founded), and his political engagement. At the same time, the author provides valuable insight into the Greek world of the late fifth and early fourth centuries BCE. Do not expect sensational revelations, but rather a solid introduction—as is the case with almost all of Waterfield’s publications. For instance, he does not hesitate to highlight the tenuous nature of some of the information available regarding Plato’s life. Other authors could learn from this approach.

To find out more, check out my History account on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

Waterfield's biography of Plato is not so much telling you everything about Plato's life. But it takes aspects of his life (esp. his journeys to Syracuse and his encounters with Dion and Dionysius I and II) to guide you through his philosophical works, or at least invite you to read them yourself.

That is the appeal of Waterfield, he clearly loves reading Plato and he really wants the reader to leave the book with an enthusiasm to check out Plato's works and he does so quite eloquently (with some occasionally humorous lines too).

I feel that enthusiasm after reading this, you learn a bit about Plato, the life he lived, the world he lived in and how events in his life developed his key ideas across his early, middle and later dialogues.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

We know very little definitively about Plato. His writing was clearly considered important because it was preserved. Also, chemo sucks. That part is not in this book.

[Dan Charnas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meticulously-researched, Waterfield provides an excellent overview of Plato's times and his evolving philosophies, moving from a very idealistic outlook to a more pragmatic perspective, seemingly based upon Plato's own experiences with politics and his interactions within his own Academy.

However, I experienced an unevenness in my interest level from chapter to chapter. For example, I was far more intrigued by Waterfield's storytelling of Plato's adventures in Sicily and their impact upon his philosophies versus his painstaking (painful?) chronologies of the Dialogues and other writings. This latter exercise, by the author's own admission, was dry for him to complete, but he felt it was important to provide the reader with a sense of the progress Plato had made over time as a writer.

Given Waterfield's acumen about Plato, one is inclined to concede that his speculations about Plato's reasons for acting about one thing or another are worth including. The speculations, in fact, add some spice to the dish, and there are quite a few 'seasonings' along the way. Furthermore, he cautions the reader that it would be misguided to draw conclusions about Plato's personality and thought processes merely from his writings. (I agree.) He also strikes down many false stories about Plato that had taken shape during his lifetime and over the several centuries following his death.

All in all, this was a very admirable and scholarly effort at a biography of Plato. Waterfield provides a believable and unvarnished impression of the great philosopher's persona.

Note: Waterfield at one point stoops to bring a modern political analogy into play. He writes about his readers thusly: "...an idea we hear or read seems persuasive - until a more convincing take on the same subject makes us change our minds (or, if we are inflexible, dismiss the new notion as 'fake news')."
Gee, do you think that Waterfield might have been taking a not-so-subtle swipe at Donald Trump and his supporters? Was it surprising to find such tacky 21st-century parenthetical musing in the midst of such fine B.C.E. erudition and analysis? Yep, it sure was, but alas, nobody's perfect.

[Troy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic biography, especially considering the dearth of verifiable information about Plato. Most other Plato biographies provide more of an intellectual history, but Waterfield's interests are tuned to the historical Plato here. Providing great a background on Socrates' trial and it's probable effect on his students, including tons of fascinating information about Alcibiades, the 30 tyrants, Plato's expedition to Syracuse (Plato spent a short time as a slave, due to a petty and vindictive tyrant. Fascinating!), and other known but scarcely consolidated episodes in Platonic history, Plato of Athens gives life to this period in history, painting a very dynamic portrait of the figures in Plato's life and in the dialogues. Having all of this in one place is incredibly valuable for any student of classics or ancient philosophy, or to anyone looking to get in on the more arcane aspects of Plato's canon.

[Daksh Jindal · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much depth about the times of Plato in this book. I will have to re read this to completely understand those times and his life. A wonderful book specifically with the fact that how little information we have of his times.

[Cody Spjut · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robin Waterfield's Plato of Athens serves as a complete biography of Plato's life, including key events, his beliefs, works, and legacy. I especially appreciate Waterfield's ability to piece together what few sources we have about Plato's life to form a coherent and plausible biography. Since our sources are scarce and accounts about Plato vary widely at times, Waterfield is careful to point out where contradictions lie, flagging stories which seem the least plausible and noting which sources are unreliable.

I'm thankful that someone like Waterfield took on this project--only a scholar deeply acquainted with Plato's philosophy could do his biography justice. There are many misconceptions about Plato which persist not only among philosophers and classicist, but also in the mind of the general public (who likely encountered his works in high school or gen-ed courses). Waterfield does a great job at dispelling such misconceptions and, I think rightly, demonstrates that Plato was motivated by a deep desire to improve humankind.

Some scholars believe that Plato was a dogmatist with consistent, unchanging theories. The reality (which Waterfield reinforces) is that Plato almost certainly did not take his views to be authoritative and it's clear that he was willing to be challenged while refining his views over time. For instance, anyone who has read the Republic is familiar with Plato's disdain for democracy and his concept of the "philosopher-king" as the ideal ruler (full of yourself, much?). However, when considering these concepts in the context of Plato's life, it becomes quite clear why he would hold such views. Democracy in Athens led to many wars and political gaffes which resulted in suffering and tyranny, and Plato saw the aftermath of this throughout his adolescence and young adulthood. He lost relatives and his dearest mentor as a direct result of the Athenian democracy. One can hardly fault him for losing faith in the "many"--their actions demonstrated that, given (mostly) free reign, people will make decisions that ultimately hinder their wellbeing.

Plato's concept of the philosopher-king was motivated by his desire to set society on the right path through rational decision making. As Plato aged, began teaching, and became briefly involved in Sicilian politics, he came to see the philosopher-king as overly idealized and impractical. In his next political work, the Statesman, he changed his stance, concluding that ruling should be placed in the hands of wise political experts (though he later saw this as unrealistic as well). In what is likely his final text, the Laws, he concluded that a nation can only flourish when all citizens (including rulers) are strictly governed by laws which are designed to prevent inequity, promote good character, and limit suffering.

Although Plato abandoned the idea of philosopher-kings, he continued to insist that philosophy is essential for human flourishing. In the ideal society of the Laws, philosophers are largely the ones who determine what laws should be added to the constitution or amended, although they do not rule or have the sole power to change laws. Plato's tendency to place philosophy on a pedestal admittedly comes across as egocentric or perhaps short-sighted, and this is a feature of his works that I have often struggled to take seriously. Plato of Athens provides a significant amount of contextual evidence to clarify why Plato admired philosophy so deeply. For starters, "philosopher" was not a job title or status symbol as it is now. To Plato, a philosopher is no more than an individual who endlessly pursues wisdom (the etymological meaning of the term is quite literal), he or she cannot help but do so. One can only attain wisdom through critical thinking, especially by facing intellectual challenges and possessing a willingness to be wrong. The Athenians of his day undervalued such pursuits, just as Americans (and arguably all modern societies) do today. I can't help but look at the state of political and social discourse today and sympathize with Plato's objective.

Whether or not his particular ideas are any good, Waterfield goes to great length to show that Plato should be commended for his efforts. He founded the Academy, which directly produced many other great thinkers (most of whom explicitly disagreed with Plato, even during his lifetime) who later went on to found additional schools, influence world politics, and contributed to cutting-edge science and mathematics. Most impressive of all, Plato was clever enough to write dialogues instead of treatises, which endure to this day as an effective teaching tool. As Waterfield puts it, "By writing philosophy as conversation, he expressed the notion that searching for truth is an ongoing quest...Philosophy, as Plato practiced it, trains the mind and endows one with problem-solving skills; it teaches one to think clearly, and without clear thinking, we are less likely to be successful in any of our endeavors...Reading the dialogues stimulates one to think for oneself about philosophical issues."

In sum, Plato of Athens greatly improved my understanding and interpretation of Plato's works. Although it covers topics that many philosophy or classics scholars already know, Waterfield succeeds by bringing everything together in one neat package to portray the life, motivations, and legacy of a commonly misunderstood figure.

[Frank Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denk dat ik een soort Platoplateau heb bereikt, want ik heb geloof ik weinig nieuws geleerd. Alleen dat 'Aristokles' dus kennelijk toch niet de echte naam van Plato was.

(Wel fijn om te lezen, al met al.)

[Rashaad Arouet · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up Robin Waterfield’s Plato of Athens by chance at a bookstore, the young woman behind the counter looked at me curiously, her head tilted, as she asked me whether I was a classics student. I was rather confused by this question considering the other five books I bought with it could hardly be categorized as “classics”. In any case, I turned to her with a smile and said that I was a student of everything, a response she seemed least to expect, and greatly to have enjoyed.

I mention this simply because I do not think, if I have interpreted the young woman’s intention correctly, that one need be a classics student to enjoy this interesting book.

Indeed, the fact that this is the first full length biography on the most famous and influential philosopher of all time, might give weight to the reason it is associated with the readings of a classics student. But it is my hope that this notion be dispelled from the casual reader’s mind because this book, written with clarity by the hand of a worthy scholar, is not necessarily for the scholar or the moth-eaten student alone, but is quite accessible to the everyday reader.

What Mr. Waterfield has tried to do with this book is present Plato the man as he undergoes his development into Plato the philosopher. For that purpose, he starts off his account with the cultural environment of Athens nearing the end of the Peloponnesian War, and then walks with us slowly as Plato develops intellectually in the environment changing around him, eventually leaving Athens to test out his ideas in Syracuse, and then returning when that fails to live out his life in the intellectually rigorous and stimulating confines of his Academy.

It is easy to think, and I think quite common to believe, that Plato was a superhuman genius whose ideas came to him in a moment of inspiration (perhaps divined by Apollo?) and thereafter never changed, going on to influence the Western world down to the present day. I believe part of this mythology is what dissuades a wider audience from thinking Plato capable of being engaged. What Mr. Waterfield does so brilliantly in this book is present a different picture. Instead of allowing philosophy and its initiates the comforts of dwelling undisturbed up among the lofty clouds, the author attempts to pull its most famous practitioner down to earth, and begins an interrogation of him and his life, revealing Plato to be a man ever-searching, ever-seeking and learning from his experiences – or, put simply, he reveals Plato to be a man, plain and simple.

And it is this last point that I think the most important about Mr. Waterfield’s book. Regardless of whether one has read, or seeks to read in the future, Plato’s dialogues, what this biography shows – rightly or wrongly – is the best of Plato, I think: Plato as a man learning and developing through engagement and experience. Since we all perform these activities in some shape or form in our own lives, it no longer seems necessary for a reader of Plato to be dressed in philosophic garb or on track to complete a classics major to feel welcome and able to engage with this luminary.

Does this mean that after reading this, everyone will suddenly take up philosophy and start reading Plato’s dialogues? Perhaps not. But I think much benefit is to be gained from removing the “mythic” sheen of exclusivity that has long been held around Plato, and, by extension, philosophy in general.

If you thought Plato too far off for you, give this book a read. It doesn’t disappoint.

[Alex Kalinske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Concerning the man, his life and work, rather than his thought, ‘Plato of Athens’ develops a persuasive chronology within the philosopher’s corpus, which spread in the later years coextending through his ostensive political engagements evince particular driving motivations implicit within his penultimate masterworks, namely the Republic and Laws. A book of scholarship in this respect, and provisionally in these first historical conjectures to be merely taken at its authoritative face, Waterfield’s enquiry into the life of the philosopher is less an introduction to the spirituous world the man of genius constructs by pen, dwells within, and hence confers to the West—and for which he is revered and beloved—than an abstinent and vitiated state of a false reprieve for readers at once critical of yet engrossed within the significance of each among the Dialogues and what they may together represent. Written thus not to introduce the genius of Plato, but to suspend his wandering readers from returning ever-to his thought, ‘Plato of Athens’ begs a simple criticism: it is either for those repugnant enough to delude themselves from the spell of Plato or Platonists who would rather stay unfettered amidst the brilliance of the clouds; for intellectual vagabonds or the exiles of gilded citadels; either the marauders of opinion or the guardians of mankind. To each it solicits an arid despondency: academics from their progenitors, philosophers from philosophy; neither to be given to the consolation the one is deprived of and the other coveting. Like anarchists in close quarters or utopians adrift at sea—be it neither with genuine want for more—whosoever reads ‘Plato of Athens’ may gain no greater information. Yet for want of knowledge of a sort one may read it: not under the inveterate draw of a pure love of knowing, but for the sake of a fastidious knowledge of a likeness of the man of whom there is always more worth reading.

[mono]

The 30 tyrants as a cause for Socrates death is most insightful. I'm doubtful that Plato would simply use Socrates as a puppet for his own ideas. My impression from the dialogs is that Plato tried to respect the source as much as is possible in making a work of imitative or derivative art based off a real world person.

[Sibongile Matema · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alfred North Whitehead is reputed to have called all Western philosophy a series of 'footnotes to Plato'. While this characterization might overplay Plato's role, his role in the discipline was important.
By presenting his works in the form of dialogues, Plato from the outset was engaging his readers in dialogue. This process of thinking through ideas, of questioning them and not necessarily coming to a conclusive answer, is one of Plato's main contributions. Another aspect is that he wrote on a wide variety of topics.
Waterfield sheds light on Plato's works, adding biographical details. He presents Plato as a man who, whether it was in conversation with friends, in the academy or whether he was giving advice or formulating the ideal structure of government, was concerned mainly with helping each person to live a life of virtue, to hold it in high regard - to be a philosopher.

[Roman Zadorozhnii · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting and informative to learn about the life and ideas of a man who constantly hides behind different masks in his dialogues

“Plato opened up infinite possibilities for the future of philosophy - not just for academic philosophers but for any of us who think and who care about what we are and what we may become, as individuals and as the human species. For anyone who strives to value knowledge over belief and to practice critical thinking rather than blind acceptance, who knows that there is more to the world than meets the eye, who thinks that virtue is not just a stuffy Victorian value and is prepared not just to sweep that insight under the rug but let it alter their world forever, however difficult and unpopular that may be—for all these people, Plato's life is a paradigm and his instruction deeply rewarding.”

[Andyaudiobooker F · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read- though a complicated one. The author admits that there is not a lot of *verified* authentic material pertaining to all of Plato's writings (much less a fully accurate biography), therefore we do not have a clear, accurate picture of all of Plato's contributions to philosophy and philosophical discussion. As such, this book is more of an attempt to put together the many fragments- puzzle pieces if you will- of Plato's life, aided by information of known historical events and reliable third-party accounts.

Personally, the willingness of an author to confess how much knowledge he doesn't have, and yet *still* manage to put together a useful detailing of Plato's life, is a refreshing sample of integrity and effort in modern-day writing.

[Red Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be ready for a biography vs. a study of philosophy, and also for a biography that requires a lot of guesswork by the author.

Plato always opposed to relativism, skepticism (impossible to attain knowledge), and materialism (he believed in some form of deity, and maybe monotheism like the Stoics as he held the Greek gods to be more like angels

Live in 5th century BCE, and was around 20 years old when Sparta wins the Peloponnesian Wars

Differentiated himself from the Sophists, who tried to win arguments, vs. the belief in dialogue as the way to determine virtues and what it meant to live well - cited justice, courage, prudence, wisdom, piety, self-control

[Ruya · Rating 5 out of 5]

While “Plato of Athens” touches shortly upon the subject of Atlantis, it is important to note that the book does not extensively delve into this topic. The frustratingly limited coverage of Atlantis in this study may leave some readers wishing for a more profound investigation and explanation of its significance. Given the enduring fascination surrounding Atlantis for more than 2 millenia, its inclusion in the book could have provided further insight and exploration into Plato’s enigmatic dialogue, the “Timaeus” and “Critias.”

[Thomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations of this book and (thus?) was a little disappointed. I am not unfamiliar with Plato's work and some of the secondary literature, and did not learn so much from the book. Some of it was illuminating though: the idea that Plato's oeuvre was work in progress; and his emphasis on philosophers going back into the cave; the contacts that Plato had with the leadership in Syracuse.