What should I read to understand Plato?

Republic, Plato’s greatest masterpeice. Philebus, another important dialogue; relates well to Republic. Timaeus, a must-read, but somewhat more difficult than the preceding….

• The Apology (possibly, as a group, with the Crito and Phaedo)
• The Meno.
• The Phaedrus.
• The Gorgias.
• The Theatetus.
• The Republic.
• The Symposium.
• The Timaeus.

Is reading Plato worth it?

Yes. It is the single most important book in the western intellectual tradition. It is good for your brain. Plato’s answers are often wrong, but he asks all the big questions.

What is Plato’s most famous book called?

the Republic
Plato’s most famous work is the Republic, which details a wise society run by a philosopher. He is also famous for his dialogues (early, middle, and late), which showcase his metaphysical theory of forms—something else he is well known for.

Why is Plato so hard to understand?

He can be extremely difficult to understand, and the theory is that his writings were actually more like class notes. He did write dialogues like Plato did, but they are all lost. As a result, he can be extremely “telegraphic” (meaning that he compresses ideas and leaves out important connecting ideas).

What should I read from Socrates?

The best books on Socrates

• Apology. by Plato.
• The Clouds. by Aristophanes.
• Theaetetus. by Plato.
• Socrates: Ironist and Moral Philosopher. by Gregory Vlastos.
• The Art of Living. by Alexander Nehamas.

Is Plato Republic difficult to read?

Plato’s Republic is the real deal. It’s going to be a challenge—it’s a challenge for everybody. But keep in mind that even people who have been reading Plato for years find him difficult, so difficulty shouldn’t be a reason not to give the Republic a go.

Is Plato’s Republic fiction?

The Republic is arguably the most popular and most widely taught of Plato’s writings. Although it contains its dramatic moments and it employs certain literary devices, it is not a play, a novel, a story; it is not, in a strict sense, an essay.

Is the republic good for beginners?

Plato’s “Republic” is as good a place as any to start. However, I find that my mind is better prepared for a deeper understanding if I read a summary of a philosopher’s text. This prepares me to better understand what a philosopher has written or thought.

Why should I read Plato?

It seems likely that the name we know him by was a nickname, his real name being Aristocles. “Plato” resonates with the Greek platus, meaning “broad”. It might suggest he was a wrestler at one point, or more lyrically, that he could write across a broad range of styles.

What questions should be considered when reading Plato’s dialogues?

It considers questions such as whether Plato espoused dogmatism or skepticism of some variety; whether the dialogues should be read together or separately; whether ancient interpretations are credible; and in what order, if any, the dialogues should be read.

What can Plato teach us about writing?

One of the things explored in some of the Plato books that I’ve chosen is the act of writing. As one of the authors I’ve chosen, Danielle Allen, has argued in particular, it is the very act of writing that provides new symbols, new metaphors, new images for how to think about ideas like anger, desire, and the nature of the soul.

What is the subject of the one according to Plato?

The topic of the soul’s origin, its temporary union with the body, and its corruptibility, which had already been developed in Phaedo and The Republic, are allegorically told through a story tied with the subject of the passions. Parmenides is Plato’s dialogue on the subject of the One.

Did Plato ever get involved in politics?

Plato came from a politically active family, but renounced politics to become a philosopher. Or did he? Professor Melissa Lane of Princeton University recommends the best books to get a better understanding of the Greek philosopher Plato, including his most famous work, the Republic.