Platon: Sämtliche Werke - Band 1

by Plato, Friedrich Schleiermacher (Translator), Walter F. Otto (Editor)

Apologie, Kriton, Protagoras, Ion, Hippias II, Charmides, Laches, Euthyphron, Gorgias, Briefe

In der Übersetzung von Friedrich Schleiermacher mit der Stephanus-Numerierung
herausgegeben von Walter F. Otto, Ernesto Grassi und Gert Plambök

338 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 1957

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."

Reviews

[A YOGAM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die frühen Dialoge führen Sokrates in Hochform: Mit seiner „Hebammenkunst“ treibt er die Athener Elite an den Rand der Verzweiflung. Hier wird Nichtwissen zur höchsten Tugend, und jede Definition gerät ins Wanken. Eine Lektüre, die daran erinnert, dass Weisheit mit der Zerstörung von Scheinwissen beginnt.

[Morpheus Lunae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's be honest, there is not that much to be gained from reading the Socratic dialogues nowadays. Especially not in this translation with its hopelessly antiquated language. The edition itself is also not that amazing since it has no commentary and the way the print fills the entire page makes you feel like you're wading through a swamp of tar, barely making any progress. But there is one thing I understand now. I now know why they sentenced Socrates to death: The man was insufferable. Good riddance!