Synopses & Reviews
No philosopher has equaled Plato for the imagination and creativity with which he engages readers and entices them to join in philosophical conversation. This brief survey introduces Platos many-sided and elusive genius in a way that is both stimulating and accessible. In ethics, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and theory of knowledge, Platos wide-ranging, bold, and influential ideas continue to challenge, provoke, and inspire us today.
Synopsis
This lively and accessible book focuses on the philosophy and argument of Plato's writings, drawing the reader into Plato's way of doing philosophy and the general themes of his thinking. It discusses Plato's style of writing: his use of the dialogue form, his use of what we today call fiction, and his philosophical transformation of myths. It also looks at his discussions of love and philosophy, his attitude towards women, and towards homosexual love. It explores Plato's claim that virtue is sufficient for happiness and touches on his arguments for the immorality of the soul and his ideas about the nature of the universe.
About the Author
Julia Annas is Regents Professor of Philosophy at the University of Arizona, having also taught at the University of Oxford and Columbia University. She has published eleven books on a wide variety of topics in ancient philosophyparticularly epistemology, philosophy of the mind, and ethics.