'The god wanted everything to be good, marred by as little imperfection as possible.'Timaeus, one of Plato's acknowledged masterpieces, is an attempt to construct the universe and explain its contents by means of as few axioms as possible. The result is a brilliant, bizarre, and surreal cosmos - the product of the rational thinking of a creator god and his astral assistants, and of purely mechanistic causes based on the behaviour of the four elements. At times dazzlingly clear, at times intri...

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Plato's Republic has influenced Western philosophers for centuries, with its main focus on what makes a well-balanced society and individual.

"Statesman" is a dialogue written by Plato in which a group of men discuss the nature of political leadership and the qualities required to be a successful statesman. The conversation is guided by an unnamed Stranger, who leads the group through a series of questions and hypothetical scenarios. Through this dialogue, Plato explores the complex relationship between the ruler and the ruled, and argues that the ideal statesman must possess both practical wisdom and knowledge of the Forms.

In "La...

"Timaeus" and "Critias" are two dialogues written by Plato in the 4th century BC. They are part of his tetralogy of works on the nature of reality, which also includes the "Republic" and the "Sophist."

In "Timaeus," Socrates and his friends discuss the nature of the universe and the role of the gods in its creation. The dialogue centers around the speech of Timaeus, a Pythagorean philosopher, who presents a cosmology based on mathematical principles. According to Timaeus, the universe is a li...

The classic translation of the cornerstone work of western philosophy Plato's Republic is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy. Presented in the form of a dialogue between Socrates and three different interlocutors, it is an inquiry into the notion of a perfect community and the ideal individual within it. During the conversation other questions are raised: what is goodness; what is reality; what is knowledge; what is the purpose of education? ...

"Ion" and "Phaedo" are two dialogues written by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato.

Ion is a short dialogue that explores the nature of poetic inspiration. The main character, Ion, is a rhapsode who performs Homer's epic poems. Socrates questions Ion about the source of his inspiration and argues that it comes not from knowledge or skill, but from divine possession. Socrates also argues that Ion's expertise is limited to reciting Homer and that he has no real knowledge of other subjects.

Pha...

"Symposium" is a philosophical dialogue written by Plato around 385–370 BC. The dialogue is set at a dinner party, where a group of Athenians, including the philosopher Socrates, gather to discuss the nature of love, or eros. Each guest takes turns delivering a speech on the subject, with their own unique perspective and interpretation. The speeches range from comedic to serious, and cover a variety of topics, including the nature of beauty, the relationship between love and the divine, and...

"The Republic" is a philosophical work written by Plato, one of the most important and influential thinkers in Western philosophy. The book is a dialogue between Socrates and several other Athenians, in which they discuss the nature of justice, the ideal society, and the human soul.

In the book, Socrates argues that justice is not only desirable for its own sake but is also necessary for a well-functioning society. He proposes that the ideal society would be one in which individuals are assig...

Works in this volume recount the circumstances of Socrates' trial and execution in 399 BC. Euthyphro attempts to define holiness; Apology is Socrates' defense speech; in Crito he discusses justice and defends his refusal to be rescued from prison; Phaedo offers arguments for the immortality of the soul.

"Sophist" is a dialogue written by Plato in the 4th century BC. It is part of his tetralogy of works on the nature of reality, which also includes the "Republic," the "Timaeus," and the "Critias."

The dialogue centers around the nature of the sophist, a type of professional educator who was skilled in the art of rhetoric and persuasion. Socrates engages in a discussion with several other interlocutors, including a visitor from Elea named Theaetetus and a group of sophists, who claim to be exp...