Plato - (Bcpaperbacks) 2nd Edition (Paperback)

About the Book

This volume is an introduction to Plato's dialogues and the ideas they explore, so serving as a readable account of his writing for the uninitiated. It also gives guidance on the historical context in which his thoughts were formed and invites inquiry into his many ideas.

Book Synopsis

This introduction to Plato's dialogues and his writing is ideal for those new to his work, giving historical context to his ideas.

'Christopher Rowe's Plato, ahead of its time when first published, is highly welcome in a new reprint. Rowe faces from the start the point that the reader of Plato's dialogues is encountering a challenging form of philosophy, one which demands both intellectual rigour and personal response, one which challenges the reader both to systematize the ideas in different dialogues and to do justice to them in their distinct dramatic settings. It invites us to shared inquiry rather than deference to established positions, and this clear and subtle introduction will draw the beginner into fruitful engagement with Plato's many ideas.'- Julia Annas, University of Arizona

'... compels the reader to engage with the actual text and thus gain an appreciation of the Socratic method of shared enquiry.' - Margaret Buckley, Classics Ireland

Review Quotes

"This book can be highly recommended as one of the clearest and most concise introductions in English to the full range of Plato's dialogues and the ideas explored in them. While giving priority to a critical engagement with individual works, it also provides guidance on the historical context in which Plato's thinking developed." --Stephen Halliwell, University of St Andrews, UK

"Christopher Rowe's Plato, ahead of its time when first published [in 1984] is highly welcome in a new reprint. From the start, Rowe establishes that the reader of Plato's dialogues encounters a challenging form of philosophy, one which demands both intellectual rigor and personal response, one which challenges the reader both to systematize the ideas in different dialogues and to do justice to them in their distinct dramatic settings. [This book] invites us to shared inquiry rather than deference to established positions, and this clear and subtle introduction will draw the beginner into fruitful engagement with Plato's many ideas." --Julia Annas, University of Arizona, USA

"... compels the reader to engage with the actual text and thus gain an appreciation of the Socratic method of shared enquiry." --Margaret Buckley, Classics Ireland

About the Author