Plato of Athens
A Life in Philosophy
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Product details:
- Publisher OUP USA
- Date of Publication 1 October 2025
- ISBN 9780197797211
- Binding Paperback
- No. of pages296 pages
- Size 250x140x16 mm
- Weight 440 g
- Language English
- Illustrations 0 illustrations 700
Categories
Short description:
This book, the first ever biography of the father of philosophy, tracks Plato's life from his childhood in war-torn Athens at the end of the fifth century BCE to his founding of the Academy, adventures in Sicily, death, and immense legacy. Throughout, it sheds light on Plato's many timeless works of philosophy.
MoreLong description:
The first ever biography of the founder of Western philosophy
Considered by many to be the most important philosopher ever, Plato was born into a well-to-do family in wartime Athens at the end of the fifth century BCE. In his teens, he honed his intellect by attending lectures from the many thinkers who passed through Athens and toyed with the idea of writing poetry. He finally decided to go into politics, but became disillusioned, especially after the Athenians condemned his teacher, Socrates, to death. Instead, Plato turned to writing and teaching. He began teaching in his twenties and later founded the Academy, the world's first higher-educational research and teaching establishment. Eventually, he returned to practical politics and spent a considerable amount of time and energy trying to create a constitution for Syracuse in Sicily that would reflect and perpetuate some of his political ideals. The attempts failed, and Plato's disappointment can be traced in some of his later political works.
In his lifetime and after, Plato was considered almost divine. Though a measure of his importance, this led to the invention of many tall tales about him-both by those who adored him and his detractors. In this first ever full-length portrait of Plato, Robin Waterfield steers a judicious course among these stories, debunking some while accepting the kernels of truth in others. He explains why Plato chose to write dialogues rather than treatises and gives an overview of the subject matter of all of Plato's books. Clearly and engagingly written throughout, Plato of Athens is the perfect introduction to the man and his work.
Finalist, 2024 PROSE Award
Table of Contents:
Preface and Acknowledgments
Maps
List of Illustrations and Tables
List of Plato's Dialogues
Timeline
Introduction
The Sources
1. Growing Up in Wartime Athens
2. The Intellectual Environment
3. From Politics to Philosophy
4. Southern Italy and Sicily
5. The Academy
6. The Second and Third Visits to Syracuse
7. Last Years
Further Reading
Index
