Plato: Timaeus (Focus Philosophical Library) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Peter Kalkavage (Translator) "The Timaeus is the strangest of Plato's dialogues..." (more)
Key Phrases: wandering cause, elementary triangles, divine craftsman, New York, Plato's Timaeus, Egyptian Sais (more...)

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.

Product Description

A new translation in the Focus Philosophical Library series, with notes and introduction material, glossary and apppendix.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 161 pages
• Publisher: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Company (June 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585100072
• ISBN-13: 978-1585100071
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86,511 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #54 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Ancient
  #64 in	Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Greek & Roman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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 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

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.