Plato Unmasked: The Dialogues Made New

by Keith Quincy

Plato has the reputation for being difficult, particularly among modern readers outside philosophical circles. This volume appraoches Plato's works from a completely different perspective. Assuming some prior knowledge of Plato, Quincy presents `condensed' translations of parts of the texts, revealing the central arguments, while omitting his `mind-numbing' garnishes and `absurdities'. The extracts are translated into very readable English, with no notes (except for occasional historical notes) and are sometimes introduced by a brief discussion that sets the scene, turning these dialogues into dramatic pieces, full of context.

Genres: Philosophy

559 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Samuel Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent background information with very easy to read dialogues. Prof Quincy has mad Plato's dialogues truly come alive.

[Adriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plato Unmasked: The Dialogues Made New is a liberal translation of Plato's Dialogues by Keith Quincy, professor at Eastern Washington University. While this is in no way a “made easy” sort of text, it is thoroughly readable with a fresh and contemporary style. The dialogues are often somewhat abridged. Quincy gives informative prefaces to each section and dates the dialogues with the dramatic date (when the conversation was placed in time, rather than the date when written). For serious research, Quincy recommends the Francis MacDonald Cornford translation, but Quincy’s own clever and lucid style would appeal to any reader. I checked this heavy edition out of the library but order my own to finish, as it is a five-star keeper.

[Frankus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quincy's makes Plato a bit pithier then one normally encounters, but this shouldn't be a drawback. Quincy only condenses the text to make for palatable contemporary prose. He by no means dilutes Plato's complexities nor does the dialogue form lose its deliberate connection with the reader. The reader still has to think through the arguments for themselves--to much delight. This is a book for curious onlookers and Plato enthusiasts alike. It may not, however, be a book to continuously reread. If you are interested in Plato you will want to read multiple translations anyway--or learn attic Greek if you're a fanatic.