The Oxford Handbook of Plato: Second Edition

Oxford Handbooks in Philosophy

by Gail Fine

Plato is the best known, and continues to be the most widely studied, of all the ancient Greek philosophers. The updated and original essays in the second edition of The Oxford Handbook of Plato provide in-depth discussions of a variety of topics and dialogues, all serving several functions at once: they survey the current academic landscape; express and develop the authors' own views; and situate those views within a range of alternatives. The result is a useful state-of-the-art reference to the person many consider the most important philosophical thinker in history.

This second edition of he Oxford Handbook of Plato differs in two main ways from the first edition. First, six leading scholars of ancient philosophy have contributed entirely new chapters: Hugh Benson on the Apology, Crito, and Euthyphro; James Warren on the Protagoras and Gorgias; Lindsay Judson on the Meno; Luca Castagnoli on the Phaedo; Susan Sauv� Meyer on the Laws; and David Sedley on Plato's theology. This new edition therefore covers both dialogues and topics in more depth than the first edition did. Secondly, most of the original chapters have been revised and updated, some in small, others in large, ways.

Genres: Philosophy

794 pages, Paperback

First published July 16, 2008

Reviews

[Othoob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still reading this book, as a handbook. I find it very explanatory and well-written. I often refer to these handbooks when I am reading Plato or Aristotle, as it helps me digest their ideas through more context since I have not read most of their works. I do enjoy reading about Plato and will continue to make this book a guide to learn more of him.

[Pundapog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This gave me a headache. Plato studies get so technical I can barely follow it, the nonsense on the "compresence of opposites" made me so angry. Timaeus is an infuriating read, and I can't lie, I couldn't finish the chapter on Parmenides.

I got some use from it, I think I have an understanding of Platonic forms and his ontology, but it's a book which was evidently to advanced for me. Plato already is an almost esoteric philosopher (my first engagement with Plato was reading Gnostic interpretations of his idea of the "Demiurge"), and his epistemology deals with issues and questions which haven't come up for me and of which I do not see the relevance. Compounding this is the fact that Plato was in my view, a constantly developing thinker, and he changes his thoughts on a given concept each dialogue.

If you've read Plato already, or if you're up for a challenge and want a proper interpretation of him, this book is for you.