The Power of Plato: An Anthology of New Translations

Plato is without doubt one of the most important thinkers who has ever lived, and his voice still resonates through all the disciplines of our time - politics, justice, law, ethics, beauty, art, education, mathematics, religion, cosmology, language and the afterlife are all embraced in his works. The new translations in this collection seek to reveal the unsurpassed power of his writing, which ultimately lies in the fact that he was as much a literary as a philosophic genius. An introduction on the life, works, influences and philosophy of Plato sets the scene for the anthology of translations that follow, which pay special attention to the meanings of key words and phrases and in several cases seek to replicate the structure and feel of the original Greek. The book concludes with a short essay on the philosophical dispute with Plato’s most famous pupil, Aristotle.The Power of Plato is for all those searching for a first insight into the genius of Plato, for students wishing to translate and understand his works, and for those already familiar with his writings who welcome a fresh approach to the teachings of the greatest European philosopher.