STATESMAN   By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. STATESMAN INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. In the Phaedrus, the Republic, the Philebus, the Parmenides, and the Sophist, we may observe the tendency of Plato to combine two or more subjects or different aspects of the same subject in a single dialogue. In the […]

SOPHIST   By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. SOPHIST INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. The dramatic power of the dialogues of Plato appears to diminish as the metaphysical interest of them increases (compare Introd. to the Philebus). There are no descriptions of time, place or persons, in the Sophist and Statesman, but we […]

PROTAGORAS   By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. PROTAGORAS INTRODUCTION. The Protagoras, like several of the Dialogues of Plato, is put into the mouth of Socrates, who describes a conversation which had taken place between himself and the great Sophist at the house of Callias—’the man who had spent more upon the Sophists […]

PHILEBUS   By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. PHILEBUS INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. The Philebus appears to be one of the later writings of Plato, in which the style has begun to alter, and the dramatic and poetical element has become subordinate to the speculative and philosophical. In the development of abstract […]

PHAEDO   By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. PHAEDO INTRODUCTION. After an interval of some months or years, and at Phlius, a town of Peloponnesus, the tale of the last hours of Socrates is narrated to Echecrates and other Phliasians by Phaedo the ‘beloved disciple.’ The Dialogue necessarily takes the form of a […]

PARMENIDES   By Plato Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. PARMENIDES INTRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS. The awe with which Plato regarded the character of ‘the great’ Parmenides has extended to the dialogue which he calls by his name. None of the writings of Plato have been more copiously illustrated, both in ancient and modern […]

  MENO   by Plato   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. ON THE IDEAS OF PLATO. MENO INTRODUCTION. This Dialogue begins abruptly with a question of Meno, who asks, ‘whether virtue can be taught.’ Socrates replies that he does not as yet know what virtue is, and has never known anyone who did. ‘Then […]

LACHES OR COURAGE   By Plato   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. LACHES, OR COURAGE. PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: INTRODUCTION. Lysimachus, the son of Aristides the Just, and Melesias, the son of the elder Thucydides, two aged men who live together, are desirous of educating their sons in the best manner. Their own education, […]

GORGIAS   by Plato   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. GORGIAS INTRODUCTION. In several of the dialogues of Plato, doubts have arisen among his interpreters as to which of the various subjects discussed in them is the main thesis. The speakers have the freedom of conversation; no severe rules of art restrict them, and […]

CRATYLUS   By Plato   Translated by Benjamin Jowett Contents INTRODUCTION. CRATYLUS INTRODUCTION. The Cratylus has always been a source of perplexity to the student of Plato. While in fancy and humour, and perfection of style and metaphysical originality, this dialogue may be ranked with the best of the Platonic writings, there has been an […]