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omelas33's review
4.0
I used this book as a reference while reading the Benjamin Jowett translation of the dialogues and the only reason I’m docking a star is because the words lack the beauty of the time it was written.. splendid otherwise
evstank's review
4.0
This collection includes The Republic and other dialogues. It is incredible to imagine that two men, Socrates and Plato, were able to unwittingly completely shape the foundations of philosophy and ethics in Western society for centuries to come. Although Socrates' beliefs and logic appear archaic as compared to modern philosophies and ethics, reading his dialogues still helps readers to experience first hand the thought processes that shaped the beginnings of philosophy and help develop their own critical thinking. Techniques such as cross examination, hypothesizing, logical deduction take form in this work. Examining through reason, what it means to lead a virtuous life, what constitutes good and evil, and what is human spirit. Or in the case of The Republic, what an ideal nation-state looks like, what form of government it needs to maintain stability, and how are youth educated to accept and encourage virtuous principles.
fypast's review against another edition
2.0
I just really don't think this has aged well... but not many seem to agree.
kate_reads_literature's review
Ugh. Not for me. I had such a hard time understanding what was going on.
2000ace's review against another edition
5.0
From Meno, the dialogue between Socrates and Menon:
"Menon: And how will you try to find out something, Socrates, when you have no notion at all what it is? Will you lay out before us a thing you don't know, and then try to find it? Or, if at best you meet it by chance, how will you know this is that which you did not know?
...(nine pages later}...
Socrates: Yes, I think that I argue well, Menon. I would not be confident in everything I say about the argument; but one thing I would fight for to the end, both in word and deed if I were able - that if we believed that we must try to find out what is not known, we should be better and braver and less idle than if we believed that what we do not know it is impossible to find out and that we need not even try." p.51
Too bad we don't use the Socratic method anymore. This book rocks.
"Menon: And how will you try to find out something, Socrates, when you have no notion at all what it is? Will you lay out before us a thing you don't know, and then try to find it? Or, if at best you meet it by chance, how will you know this is that which you did not know?
...(nine pages later}...
Socrates: Yes, I think that I argue well, Menon. I would not be confident in everything I say about the argument; but one thing I would fight for to the end, both in word and deed if I were able - that if we believed that we must try to find out what is not known, we should be better and braver and less idle than if we believed that what we do not know it is impossible to find out and that we need not even try." p.51
Too bad we don't use the Socratic method anymore. This book rocks.
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