Plato: The Great Philosophers (The Great Philosophers Series) (Paperback)

~ Bernard Williams (Author) "Plato invented the subject of philosophy as we know it..." (more)
Key Phrases: Middle Period

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Once in a while, a publication comes along that on first sight seems oddly out of place but on second viewing is admirably suited to its purpose. This little series of biographical summaries of the thoughts of 24 Western philosophers from Democritus to Derrida is admirable not only for its reasonable price but even more for the intelligence and clarity of the writing. Each volume has been prepared by an expert in the subject, and the result is a series of well-drawn and exceptionally useful pocket-size (4.5 x 7 inches) sketches of major figures in the history of Western thought. The level is such that no special background in philosophy is required to understand the concepts discussed. Each volume also contains a short bibliography, some of which refer to electronic journals or web sites. Most of the individuals chosen for the series come as no surprise, e.g., Descartes, Hegel, Kant, Nietzsche, Locke, Hume, Plato, and Socrates. But there are a few unexpected choices, like Alan Turing and Karl PopperAalthough on further consideration, they make more sense. Turing's influence on mathematics and on the development of computers has long been recognized, but his 1936 paper "On Compatible Numbers," which appeared in the Proceedings of the London Mathematical Society in 1936-37, influenced studies in the philosophy of mind. Popper's development of the concept of "historicism" in such works as The Open Society and Its Enemies and The Poverty of Historicism significantly influenced 20th-century political thought. Ultimately, this set should be in every academic and public library as well as many school libraries.ATerry C. Skeats, Bishop's Univ. Lib., Lennoxville, Quebec
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Philosophy is one of the most intimidating and difficult of disciplines, as any of its students can attest. This book is an important entry in a distinctive new series from Routledge: The Great Philosophers. Breaking down obstacles to understanding the ideas of history's greatest thinkers, these brief, accessible, and affordable volumes offer essential introductions to the great philosophers of the Western tradition from Plato to Wittgenstein. In just 64 pages, each author, a specialist on his subject, places the philosopher and his ideas into historical perspective. Each volume explains, in simple terms, the basic concepts, enriching the narrative through the effective use of biographical detail. And instead of attempting to explain the philosopher's entire intellectual history, which can be daunting, this series takes one central theme in each philosopher's work, using it to unfold the philosopher's thoughts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 57 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415923956
• ISBN-13: 978-0415923958
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,179,066 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intro to Plato, August 28, 2002

By	Pumpkin King - See all my reviews

This book comes in at a little under 50 pages (45), and like Anthony Gottlieb with "Socrates," Bernard Williams is able to cover quite a lot of ground in that short space. Because of the limits imposed by its brevity, there is not much focus on Plato's personal life, or the context within which his ideas were born. Instead there is an excellent exploration of Plato's writings that weaves through his texts and gives the reader an idea for how to approach his works. It is not meant to be a complete and thorough analysis, but as an introduction or accompaniment to Plato's dialogues, it is a valuable book(let).

5.0 out of 5 stars Republication, September 13, 2008

By	Schmidhauser (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

An excellent piece - and it was just republished this year in Williams's The Sense of the Past: Essays in the History of Philosophy.

5.0 out of 5 stars An opening into the dialogues, September 5, 2008

By	Pen Name? "fluxus" (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

Rather than provide a quick, closed-door set of answers to what Plato said and "meant," Williams gives a text that manages to open the issues of Plato's texts in a lively manner. Williams' text is a clearly written, engaging and interesting read. In the space of under 50 pages, he gives a fantastic overview of Platonic philosophy (indeed touching on many of the most well known themes), all the while providing subtle observations and close commentary. He examines Plato's thought in works from all 3 periods, with very insightful commentary on the works that come after the Republic.

His work highlights the tensions and questions within the dialogues. Most importantly, perhaps, he interrogates the received wisdom of the "theory of the forms" to show how Plato was at work throughout his career in questioning these issues, never fully resting on a dogmatic theory. ("The dialogues are never closed or final." - Williams, 43)

Williams explores tensions between Plato's thinking of the two worlds alongside his inclinations to locate the good and meaning in this world and life, and that what is more important might very well be the activity of philosophy itself rather than some full fledged doctrinal system.

This is an introduction which really draws the reader in and opens Platonic thought in a lively manner. This is a valuable short text for both beginners and seasoned readers of Plato, which is a rare feat.