Plato Within Your Grasp^TM

by Brian Proffitt

• ISBN13: 9780764559778
• ISBN10: 076455977X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-06-01
• Publisher: Cliffs Notes

Summary

Philosophy's greatest luminaries brought down to earth. Plato Within Your Grasp offers fast, easy access to the life and works of the acknowledged father of Western philosophy. In fewer than 100 pages, you'll get all the essentials in everyday language. A short biographical sketch sets the scene, followed by chapters illuminating Plato's overall philosophy and his most important writings. For students and lifelong learners seeking an entry point into this astonishingly diverse thinker's ideas, Plato Within Your Grasp is the springboard to enriched understanding. Inside you'll find all the vital details, including: Life * Family and upbringing * Influence of Socrates * Athenian culture and society Philosophy * Overview of key works, themes, and impact * Socratic, mature, and late periods * Individual chapters on Apology and Meno * Book-by-book explanation of The Republic Additional Resources * Tracking down Plato's major works * Collections, biographies, and critical writings * Plato on the Internet Get a grip-Plato is within your grasp!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. v
Plato's Life	p. 1
Plato's Early Life	p. 2
A Silver Spoon	p. 2
A Time of War	p. 3
The Influence of Socrates	p. 4
Meeting Socrates	p. 4
Becoming Socrates's Student	p. 5
Defending Socrates	p. 6
Plato's Travels	p. 7
The Opening of the Academy	p. 8
Plato's Return to Italy	p. 8
The Final Years	p. 10
Plato's Philosophy	p. 11
The Socratic Period	p. 11
The Meaning of Virtue	p. 12
Writings of the Socratic Period	p. 13
The Mature Period	p. 14
Separating Form from Function	p. 14
Writings of the Mature Period	p. 15
The Late Period	p. 16
Continuing the Conversation	p. 17
Writings of the Mature Period	p. 17
Other Works	p. 18
Apology	p. 19
Perspective on Apology	p. 19
Opening Statements, Cross Exam, and Closing Arguments	p. 21
Guilt by Reputation	p. 23
Taking on the Accusers	p. 27
Unafraid of Death	p. 33
Found Guilty	p. 35
A Man Condemned	p. 37
Meno	p. 39
Perspective on Meno	p. 39
The Nature of Virtue	p. 40
The Paradox of Learning	p. 46
Teaching Virtue	p. 49
Knowledge and Belief	p. 51
Republic	p. 53
Perspective on Republic	p. 53
Characters of Republic	p. 54
The Themes of Republic	p. 55
Beginning the Search for Justice	p. 56
A City of Justice	p. 60
Educating the Guardians	p. 63
The City as Soul	p. 66
Refining the City Model	p. 70
The Search for a Philosopher-King	p. 73
Rising Out of the Cave	p. 76
Beyond Callipolis	p. 78
Justice versus Injustice	p. 80
Loose Ends	p. 82
Further Reading	p. 83
Plato's Main Works	p. 83
Collections, Biographies, and Critical Works	p. 83
Plato Web Sites	p. 84
General Philosophy	p. 84
Index	p. 85
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.