Customer Reviews

The Dialogues of Plato, Volume 1: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Gorgias, Menexenus (v. 1)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is excellent for anyone interested in the study of Platonic philosophy, both in the original dialogue form and in commentary which elucidates the primary text. Allen assembles six dialogues in this volume, which all deal with several major themes; the necessity of true definition of words if any meaningful dialogue is to be carried on regarding them (such as virtue, piety, justice, etc.), the death of Socrates, and absolute necessity of caring for the excellence of the soul through acting justly and absolutely rejecting injustice. Allen begins each chapter with a clear and very instructive discourse on the dialogue, as well as relating it to others which illustrate the same concepts dealt with in the present one. He always avoids devloving into the effetism of academic terminology, so he is very readable. He expresses the true meaning of the dialogue in language which all can understand. The dialogues are translated in a very understandable contemporary language, yet somehow manage to maintain the linguistic, poetic power of the original. I found that reading the commentary first, then the dialogue, and finally rereading the commentary provided a wonderful way to use this book. I can't wait to read the entire set! Buy and read it!

The five volumes that Allen has produced so far are much more than just another set of translations of Plato. They provide a coherent and accessible stand-alone course of study in Platonic philosophy. One can start right from the Preface of the fist volume and read them all straight through to the very end of Allen's masterful edition of the Republic. In fact - that is exactly what one should do.

Allen develops a number of crucial ideas in his commentaries/introductions. One of his most brilliant strokes is his demonstration of how the "Forms" are already strongly implied in the early "Socratic" dialogs. Those dialogs assume that such questions as "what is virtue?" are meaningful - and the way in which Plato assumes this already assumes that there is such a thing as Virtue, ie, the "Form" of virtue.

The order in which the dialogs are arranged is far from conventional - and yet there is a master plan behind it all. If one takes the time to read (and probably re-read) the Introductions/Commentaries while reading the dialogs in the given order, the maximum benefit will be gained from Allen's depth of knowledge and insight.

If you are starting from scratch I would highly recommend also reading Pierre Hadot's "What Is Ancient Philosophy?" in parallel with this first volume. Julia Annas' "Introduction" to the Republic would also be good to have once you get to that volume (which is the fifth and last one so far - as of August 2007).

One hopes that Allen is at work right now on a translation of the Phaedo!!!!

Crito was a great book to read about for philosophy. It was very interesting in various ways.