Plato: Timaeus (Focus Philosophical Library) [Paperback]

Plato (Author), Peter Kalkavage (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2001

This is an English translation of Plato's dialogue concerning speculation on the nature of the physical world and human beings. An extensive introduction provides careful insights to the reading of the work, the nature of Platonic dialogue and the cultural background of the Timaeus. Appendices on music, astronomy and geometry further provide guidance to the central thoughts of the dialogue. The glossary provides cross references and discussion for key words in the dialogue, functioning as springboards into the various concepts and ideas that are central to this and other Platonic dialogues and are useful starting points for any classroom discussion or personal thought.

Focus Philosophical Library translations are close to and are non-interpretative of the original text, with the notes and a glossary intending to provide the reader with some sense of the terms and the concepts as they were understood by Plato’s immediate audience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kalkavage's translation is a brilliant accomplishment. He makes Plato's most intricate and important dialogues accessible to new readers. -- December 12, 2000 Dr. Alejandro A. Vallega Department of Philosophy. California State University, Stanislaus.

About the Author

Peter Kalkavage is a Tutor at St. John's College in Annapolis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 161 pages
• Publisher: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Co. (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585100072
• ISBN-13: 978-1585100071
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #452,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Immensely useful, October 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Plato: Timaeus (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

The Timaeus is doubtless one of the most difficult of Plato's dialogues for modern student to unravel, in part because of the vital role played by mathematics in Timaeus' narrative. Kalkavage's appendices provide clear introductions to these aspects of the argument, which supersede Cornford on some points. The translation is very literal, and if that's your thing, quite impeccable. Kalkavage in his Introduction expresses intellectual debts to Jacob Klein, Richard Kennington, and Stanley Rosen; this is a most interesting pedigree, especially as one assumes that the absence of the obvious "fourth" must be intentional.

I should remark, in reference to the review below, that the Timaeus presupposes some familiarity with Plato's philosophy; those just embarking on this study would be best advised to begin with the Alcibiades or the Meno.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best TIMAEUS Available in English, February 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Plato: Timaeus (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

This is a beautiful book. Kalkavage has produced an inexpensive translation of the TIMAEUS that is ideal for undergraduate use, yet has something to teach students of Plato at every level of accomplishment. Kalkavage's translation is clear, precise, and easy to read, and includes a host of features that aid in the study of the dialogue: a long introductory essay, an outline of the TIMAEUS, footnotes, an extensive glossary of important terms, and appendices on music, astonomy, and geometry. The introductory essay is especially valuable, as it renders visible the dramatic and political context of Timaeus's cosmology in a way that makes possible a fresh understanding of the TIMAEUS's deepest implications.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plato's Timaeus by Peter Kalkavage, November 1, 2003

By 

William R.Tilles (Rockville, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Plato: Timaeus (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

Plato's Timaeus by Peter Kalkavage includes the Kalkavage translation of the Dialogue and two supporting sections, the introduction and the glossary, that are integral to the richness of the book. The Dialogue portion is beautifully translated and very readable. The introduction provides a fascinating treatise for the person wanting to understand the Timaeus as well as how Platonic dialogues generally might be approached. The glossary is not simply a list of terms and definitions, but offers an explanation of the concepts embedded in the language of the Dialogue. Peter Kalkavage's Timaeus is not just for scholars. It offers insight for all those interested in Greek philosophy, Platonic dialogues and in particular, Plato's view of the creation of the cosmos and man's place within it.