Book 1

Apology

by Plato

Published 1 January 1936
The Apology is Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates as he defended himself in 399 BC against the charges of "corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel . Apology here has its...Read more

Book 2

The Dialogues of Plato

by Plato

Published December 1953
"The unexamined life is not worth living" Socrates's famous ancient words are still true, and the ideas sounded in Plato's Dialogues still form the foundation of a thinking person's education. This superb collection contains excellent contemporary translations selected for their clarity and accessibility to today's reader, as well as...Read more

Book 3

Euthyphro

by Plato

Published 1 January 1914
Plato, the great philosopher of Athens, was born in 427 BCE. In early manhood an admirer of Socrates, he later founded the famous school of philosophy in the grove Academus. Much else recorded of his life is uncertain; that he left Athens for a time after Socrates' execution is...Read more

Book 4

Critias

by Plato

Published 11 September 2007
Critias, one of Plato's late dialogues, contains the story of the mighty island kingdom Atlantis and its attempt to conquer Athens. Critias is the second of a projected trilogy of dialogues, preceded by Timaeus and followed by Hermocrates, though the latter was possibly never written and Critias was left...Read more

Book 5

Charmides

by Plato

Published 31 January 1927

Plato, the great philosopher of Athens, was born in 427 BCE. In early manhood an admirer of Socrates, he later founded the famous school of philosophy in the grove Academus. Much else recorded of his life is uncertain; that he left Athens for a time after Socrates' execution is...

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Book 6

Cratylus

by Plato

Published 31 January 1926

Plato, the great philosopher of Athens, was born in 427 BCE. In early manhood an admirer of Socrates, he later founded the famous school of philosophy in the grove Academus. Much else recorded of his life is uncertain; that he left Athens for a time after Socrates' execution is...

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Book 8

Phaedrus

by Plato

Published 1 January 1956
Set in the idyllic countryside outside Athens, the Phaedrus is a dialogue between the philosopher Socrates and his friend Phaedrus, inspired by their reading of a clumsy speech by the writer Lysias on the nature of love. Their conversation develops into a wide-ranging discussion on such subjects as the...Read more

Book 9

The Timaeus

by Plato

Published December 1929
Timaeus is one of Plato's dialogues, mostly in the form of a long monologue given by the titular character, written circa 360 BC. The work puts forward speculation on the nature of the physical world and human beings. It is followed by the dialogue Critias. Speakers of the dialogue...Read more

Book 10

Symposium

by Plato

Published 1 January 1871
This translation of the Greek text of R.G. Bury is arranged with the Greek and English on facing pages and printed on fine paper with a cloth binding, and illustrated with woodcuts throughout. Plato's "Symposium" gives a vivid picture of upper-class life in late 5th-century Athens. The book also...Read more

Book 11

Ion

by Plato

Published 1 December 1984
Originally published in 1912 as part of the Pitt Press Series, this book contains the Greek text of the Socratic dialogue Ion. The edition is prefaced with an overview of Plato's life and career and an analysis of the key ideas in the text, with detailed notes following at...Read more

Book 12

Laches

by Plato

Published 31 January 1924

Plato, the great philosopher of Athens, was born in 427 BCE. In early manhood an admirer of Socrates, he later founded the famous school of philosophy in the grove Academus. Much else recorded of his life is uncertain; that he left Athens for a time after Socrates' execution is...

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Book 13

Menexenus

by Plato

Published 27 June 2013
The Menexenus is a Socratic dialogue of Plato. The speakers are Socrates and Menexenus, who is not to be confused with Socrates' son Menexenus. The Menexenus consists mainly of a lengthy funeral oration, satirizing the one given by Pericles in Thucydides' account of the Peloponnesian War. Socrates here delivers...Read more

Book 14

Meno

by Plato

Published 1 January 1949
Meno is a Socratic dialogue written by Plato. It attempts to determine the definition of virtue, or arete, meaning virtue in general, rather than particular virtues, such as justice or temperance. The first part of the work is written in the Socratic dialectical style and Meno is reduced to...Read more

Book 15

Gorgias

by Plato

Published 1 September 1878
The Gorgias is a vivid introduction to central problems of moral and political philosophy. In answer to an eloquent attack on morality as conspiration of the weak against the strong, Plato develops his own doctrine, insisting that the benefits of being moral always outweigh any benefits to be won...Read more

Book 18

Crito

by Plato

Published 1 March 1920
Plato's Crito is an investigation of morality and justice. It presents a dialogue which takes place in Socrates' prison cell, where he awaits execution. He is visited by his friend Crito who has made arrangements to smuggle him out of prison. Socrates, however, reasons that this would be the...Read more

Book 19

Parmenides

by Plato

Published 1 March 1912
A dialogue by Plato that shows the earliest discussions by Socrates. As in most of his other works, he presents both sides of an argument in an engaging manner. It depicts a discussion undertaken by Socrates when he was twenty years old and confronting an Eleatic philosopher.

Book 20

Phaedo

by Plato

Published December 1911
The Phaedo is acknowledged to be one of Plato's greatest masterpieces, showing him both as a philosopher and as a dramatist at the height of his powers. For its moving account of the execution of Socrates, the Phaedo ranks among the supreme literary achievements of antiquity. It is also...Read more

Book 21

Protagoras

by Plato

Published 31 July 1970
In addition to its interest as one of Plato's most brilliant dramatic masterpieces, the Protagoras presents a vivid picture of the crisis of fifth-century Greek thought, in which traditional values and conceptions of humanity were subjected to criticism of the Sophists and to the far more radical criticism of...Read more

Book 22

Philebus

by Plato

Published 1 October 1869
Taking the form of a discussion between the hedonist Philebus, his naive disciple Protarchus and Socrates, Philebus is a compelling consideration of the popular belief that pleasure is the greatest attainable good. Here, Socrates speculates on the differing intensities of both pleasure and pain; explores the notion that they...Read more

Book 23

Statesman

by Plato

Published 31 January 1925
Theaetetus, the Sophist, and the Statesman are a trilogy of Platonic dialogues that show Socrates formulating his conception of philosophy as he prepares the defense for his trial. Originally published together as The Being of the Beautiful, these translations can be read separately or as a trilogy. Each includes...Read more