To my former pupils in Balliol College and in the University of Oxford who during fifty years have been the best of friends to me these volumes are inscribed in grateful recognition of their never fai...

The Text which has been mostly followed in this Translation of Plato is the latest 8vo. edition of Stallbaum; the principal deviations are noted at the bottom of the page. I have to acknowledge many o...

In publishing a Second Edition (1875) of the Dialogues of Plato in English, I had to acknowledge the assistance of several friends: of the Rev. G. G. Bradley, Master of University College, now Dean of...

The chief additions to the Introductions in the Third Edition consist of Essays on the following subjects:⁠— Language. The decline of Greek Literature. The “Ideas” of Plato and Modern Philosophy. The ...

The subject of the “Charmides” is Temperance or σωφροσύνη, a peculiarly Greek notion, which may also be rendered Moderation,6 Modesty, Discretion, Wisdom, without completely exhausting by all these te...

The subject of the “Charmides” is Temperance or σωφροσύνη, a peculiarly Greek notion, which may also be rendered Moderation,6 Modesty, Discretion, Wisdom, without completely exhausting by all these te...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates, who is the narrator Charmides Chaerephon Critias Scene: The Palaestra of Taureas, which is near the Porch of the King Archon. Yesterday evening I returned from the a...

No answer is given in the “Lysis” to the question, “What is Friendship?” any more than in the “Charmides” to the question, “What is Temperance?” There are several resemblances in the two Dialogues: th...

No answer is given in the “Lysis” to the question, “What is Friendship?” any more than in the “Charmides” to the question, “What is Temperance?” There are several resemblances in the two Dialogues: th...

The subject of friendship has a lower place in the modern than in the ancient world, partly because a higher place is assigned by us to love and marriage. The very meaning of the word has become sligh...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates, who is the narrator Menexenus Hippothales Lysis Ctesippus Scene: A newly-erected Palaestra outside the walls of Athens. I was going from the Academy straight to the ...

Lysimachus, the son of Aristides the Just, and Melesias, the son of the elder Thucydides, two aged men who live together, are desirous of educating their sons in the best manner. Their own education, ...

Lysimachus, the son of Aristides the Just, and Melesias, the son of the elder Thucydides, two aged men who live together, are desirous of educating their sons in the best manner. Their own education, ...

Persons of the dialogue: Lysimachus, son of Aristides Melesias, son of Thucydides Their sons Nicias, Laches, Socrates Lysimachus: You have seen the exhibition of the man fighting in armour, Nicias and...

The Protagoras, like several of the Dialogues of Plato, is put into the mouth of Socrates, who describes a conversation which had taken place between himself and the great Sophist at the house of Call...

The Protagoras, like several of the Dialogues of Plato, is put into the mouth of Socrates, who describes a conversation which had taken place between himself and the great Sophist at the house of Call...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates, who is the narrator to his Companion Hippocrates Alcibiades Critias Protagoras, a Sophist Hippias, a Sophist Prodicus, a Sophist Callias, a wealthy Athenian Scene: T...

The “Euthydemus,” though apt to be regarded by us only as an elaborate jest, has also a very serious purpose. It may fairly claim to be the oldest treatise on logic; for that science originates in the...

The “Euthydemus,” though apt to be regarded by us only as an elaborate jest, has also a very serious purpose. It may fairly claim to be the oldest treatise on logic; for that science originates in the...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates, who is the narrator of the Dialogue Crito Cleinias Euthydemus Dionysodorus Ctesippus Scene: The Lyceum Crito: Who was the person, Socrates, with whom you were talkin...

The “Cratylus” has always been a source of perplexity to the student of Plato. While in fancy and humour, and perfection of style and metaphysical originality, this dialogue may be ranked with the bes...

The “Cratylus” has always been a source of perplexity to the student of Plato. While in fancy and humour, and perfection of style and metaphysical originality, this dialogue may be ranked with the bes...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Hermogenes Cratylus Hermogenes: Suppose that we make Socrates a party to the argument? Cratylus: If you please. Hermogenes: I should explain to you, Socrates, that ou...

The “Phaedrus” is closely connected with the “Symposium,” and may be regarded either as introducing or following it. The two Dialogues together contain the whole philosophy of Plato on the nature of l...

The “Phaedrus” is closely connected with the “Symposium,” and may be regarded either as introducing or following it. The two Dialogues together contain the whole philosophy of Plato on the nature of l...

One of the main purposes of Plato in the “Phaedrus” is to satirize Rhetoric, or rather the Professors of Rhetoric who swarmed at Athens in the fourth century before Christ. As in the opening of the Di...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Phaedrus Scene: Under a plane-tree, by the banks of the Ilissus. Socrates: My dear Phaedrus, whence come you, and whither are you going? Phaedrus: I come from Lysias ...

The “Ion” is the shortest, or nearly the shortest, of all the writings which bear the name of Plato, and is not authenticated by any early external testimony. The grace and beauty of this little work ...

The “Ion” is the shortest, or nearly the shortest, of all the writings which bear the name of Plato, and is not authenticated by any early external testimony. The grace and beauty of this little work ...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Ion Socrates: Welcome, Ion. Are you from your native city of Ephesus? Ion: No, Socrates; but from Epidaurus, where I attended the festival of Asclepius. Socrates: And...

Of all the works of Plato the “Symposium” is the most perfect in form, and may be truly thought to contain more than any commentator has ever dreamed of; or, as Goethe said of one of his own writings,...

Of all the works of Plato the “Symposium” is the most perfect in form, and may be truly thought to contain more than any commentator has ever dreamed of; or, as Goethe said of one of his own writings,...

Persons of the dialogue: Apollodorus, who repeats to his companion the dialogue which he had heard from Aristodemus, and had already once narrated to Glaucon Phaedrus Pausanias Eryximachus Aristophane...

This Dialogue begins abruptly with a question of Meno, who asks, “whether virtue can be taught.” Socrates replies that he does not as yet know what virtue is, and has never known anyone who did. “Then...

This Dialogue begins abruptly with a question of Meno, who asks, “whether virtue can be taught.” Socrates replies that he does not as yet know what virtue is, and has never known anyone who did. “Then...

Plato’s doctrine of ideas has attained an imaginary clearness and definiteness which is not to be found in his own writings. The popular account of them is partly derived from one or two passages in h...

Persons of the dialogue: Meno Socrates A Slave of Meno (Boy) Anytus Meno: Can you tell me, Socrates, whether virtue is acquired by teaching or by practice; or if neither by teaching nor by practice, t...

In the “Meno,” Anytus had parted from Socrates with the significant words: “That in any city, and particularly in the city of Athens, it is easier to do men harm than to do them good” (94 E); and Socr...

In the “Meno,” Anytus had parted from Socrates with the significant words: “That in any city, and particularly in the city of Athens, it is easier to do men harm than to do them good” (94 E); and Socr...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Euthyphro Scene: The Porch of the King Archon. Euthyphro: Why have you left the Lyceum, Socrates? and what are you doing in the Porch of the King Archon? Surely you c...

In what relation the “Apology” of Plato stands to the real defence of Socrates, there are no means of determining. It certainly agrees in tone and character with the description of Xenophon, who says ...

In what relation the “Apology” of Plato stands to the real defence of Socrates, there are no means of determining. It certainly agrees in tone and character with the description of Xenophon, who says ...

How you, O Athenians, have been affected by my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that they almost made me forget who I was⁠—so persuasively did they speak; and yet they have hardly uttered a word of...

The “Crito” seems intended to exhibit the character of Socrates in one light only, not as the philosopher, fulfilling a divine mission and trusting in the will of heaven, but simply as the good citize...

The “Crito” seems intended to exhibit the character of Socrates in one light only, not as the philosopher, fulfilling a divine mission and trusting in the will of heaven, but simply as the good citize...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Crito Scene: The Prison of Socrates. Socrates: Why have you come at this hour, Crito? it must be quite early? Crito: Yes, certainly. Socrates: What is the exact time?...

After an interval of some months or years, and at Phlius, a town of Peloponnesus, the tale of the last hours of Socrates is narrated to Echecrates and other Phliasians by Phaedo the “beloved disciple....

After an interval of some months or years, and at Phlius, a town of Peloponnesus, the tale of the last hours of Socrates is narrated to Echecrates and other Phliasians by Phaedo the “beloved disciple....

Persons of the dialogue: Phaedo, who is the narrator of the dialogue to Echecrates of Phlius. Socrates Apollodorus Simmias Cebes Crito An Attendant of the Prison Scene: The Prison of Socrates Place of...

In several of the dialogues of Plato, doubts have arisen among his interpreters as to which of the various subjects discussed in them is the main thesis. The speakers have the freedom of conversation;...

In several of the dialogues of Plato, doubts have arisen among his interpreters as to which of the various subjects discussed in them is the main thesis. The speakers have the freedom of conversation;...

The myths of Plato are a phenomenon unique in literature. There are four longer ones: these occur in the “Phaedrus” (244⁠–⁠256), “Phaedo” (110⁠–⁠115), “Gorgias” (523⁠–⁠527), and Republic (X 614⁠–⁠621)...

Persons of the dialogue: Callicles Socrates Chaerephon Gorgias Polus Scene: The house of Callicles Callicles: The wise man, as the proverb says, is late for a fray, but not for a feast. Socrates: And ...

The Republic of Plato is the longest of his works with the exception of the Laws, and is certainly the greatest of them. There are nearer approaches to modern metaphysics in the “Philebus” and in the ...

The Republic of Plato is the longest of his works with the exception of the Laws, and is certainly the greatest of them. There are nearer approaches to modern metaphysics in the “Philebus” and in the ...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates, who is the narrator Cephalus Glaucon Thrasymachus Adeimantus Cleitophon Polemarchus And others who are mute auditors. The scene is laid in the house of Cephalus at t...

I went down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess;150 and also because I wanted to see in what manner they would celebrate the festi...

With these words I was thinking that I had made an end of the discussion; but the end, in truth, proved to be only a beginning. For Glaucon, who is always the most pugnacious of men, was dissatisfied ...

Such then, I said, are our principles of theology⁠—some tales are to be told, and others are not to be told to our disciples from their youth upwards, if we mean them to honour the gods and their pare...

Here Adeimantus interposed a question: How would you answer, Socrates, said he, if a person were to say that you are making208 these people miserable, and that they are the cause of their own unhappin...

Such is the good and true City or State, and the good and true man is of the same pattern; and if this is right every other is wrong; and the evil is one which affects not only the ordering of the Sta...

And thus, Glaucon, after the argument has gone a weary way, the true and the false philosophers have at length appeared in view. I do not think, he said, that the way could have been shortened. I supp...

And now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened:⁠—Behold! human beings living in a underground den, which has a mouth open towards the light and reaching al...

And so, Glaucon, we have arrived at the conclusion that in the perfect State wives and children are to be in common; and that all education and the pursuits of war and peace are also to be common, and...

Last of all comes the tyrannical man; about whom we have once more to ask, how is he formed out of the democratical? and how does he live, in happiness or in misery? Yes, he said, he is the only one r...

Of the many excellences which I perceive in the order of our State, there is none which upon reflection pleases me better than the rule about poetry. To what do you refer? To the rejection of imitativ...

Of all the writings of Plato the “Timaeus” is the most obscure and repulsive to the modern reader, and has nevertheless had the greatest influence over the ancient and medieval world. The obscurity ar...

Of all the writings of Plato the “Timaeus” is the most obscure and repulsive to the modern reader, and has nevertheless had the greatest influence over the ancient and medieval world. The obscurity ar...

Socrates begins the “Timaeus” with a summary of the Republic. He lightly touches upon a few points⁠—the division of labour and distribution of the citizens into classes, the double nature and training...

Nature in the aspect which she presented to a Greek philosopher of the fourth century before Christ is not easily reproduced to modern eyes. The associations of mythology and poetry have to be added, ...

Plato’s account of the soul is partly mythical or figurative, and partly literal. Not that either he or we can draw a line between them, or say, “This is poetry, this is philosophy”; for the transitio...

The astronomy of Plato is based on the two principles of the same and the other, which God combined in the creation of the world. The soul, which is compounded of the same, the other, and the essence,...

The soul of the world is framed on the analogy of the soul of man, and many traces of anthropomorphism blend with Plato’s highest flights of idealism. The heavenly bodies are endowed with thought; the...

I shall not attempt to connect the physiological speculations of Plato either with ancient or modern medicine. What light I can throw upon them will be derived from the comparison of them with his gen...

In Plato’s explanation of sensation we are struck by the fact that he has not the same distinct conception of organs of sense which is familiar to ourselves. The senses are not instruments, but rather...

We have now to consider how far in any of these speculations Plato approximated to the discoveries of modern science. The modern physical philosopher is apt to dwell exclusively on the absurdities of ...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Critias Timaeus Hermocrates Socrates: One, two, three; but where, my dear Timaeus, is the fourth of those who were yesterday my guests and are to be my entertainers t...

The “Critias” is a fragment which breaks off in the middle of a sentence. It was designed to be the second part of a trilogy, which, like the other great Platonic trilogy of the “Sophist,” “Statesman,...

The “Critias” is a fragment which breaks off in the middle of a sentence. It was designed to be the second part of a trilogy, which, like the other great Platonic trilogy of the “Sophist,” “Statesman,...

Persons of the dialogue: Critias Hermocrates Timaeus Socrates Timaeus: How thankful I am, Socrates, that I have arrived at last, and, like a weary traveller after a long journey, may be at rest! And I...

The awe with which Plato regarded the character of “the great” Parmenides has extended to the dialogue which he calls by his name. None of the writings of Plato have been more copiously illustrated, b...

The awe with which Plato regarded the character of “the great” Parmenides has extended to the dialogue which he calls by his name. None of the writings of Plato have been more copiously illustrated, b...

Persons of the dialogue: Cephalus Adeimantus Glaucon Antiphon Pythodorus Socrates Zeno Parmenides Aristoteles Cephalus rehearses a dialogue which is supposed to have been narrated in his presence by A...

Some dialogues of Plato are of so various a character that their relation to the other dialogues cannot be determined with any degree of certainty. The “Theaetetus,” like the “Parmenides,” has points ...

Some dialogues of Plato are of so various a character that their relation to the other dialogues cannot be determined with any degree of certainty. The “Theaetetus,” like the “Parmenides,” has points ...

Since the above essay first appeared, many books on Psychology have been given to the world, partly based upon the views of Herbart and other German philosophers, partly independent of them. The subje...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Theodorus Theaetetus Euclid: Euclid and Terpsion meet in front of Euclid’s house in Megara; they enter the house, and the dialogue is read to them by a servant. Eucli...

The dramatic power of the dialogues of Plato appears to diminish as the metaphysical interest of them increases (compare Introd. to the “Philebus”). There are no descriptions of time, place or persons...

The dramatic power of the dialogues of Plato appears to diminish as the metaphysical interest of them increases (compare Introd. to the “Philebus”). There are no descriptions of time, place or persons...

Persons of the dialogue: Theodorus Theaetetus Socrates An Eleatic Stranger, whom Theodorus and Theaetetus bring with them. The younger Socrates, who is a silent auditor Theodorus: Here we are, Socrate...

In the “Phaedrus,” the Republic, the “Philebus,” the “Parmenides,” and the “Sophist,” we may observe the tendency of Plato to combine two or more subjects or different aspects of the same subject in a...

In the “Phaedrus,” the Republic, the “Philebus,” the “Parmenides,” and the “Sophist,” we may observe the tendency of Plato to combine two or more subjects or different aspects of the same subject in a...

Persons of the dialogue: Theodorus Socrates The Eleatic Stranger The Younger Socrates Socrates: I owe you many thanks, indeed, Theodorus, for the acquaintance both of Theaetetus and of the Stranger. T...

The “Philebus” appears to be one of the later writings of Plato, in which the style has begun to alter, and the dramatic and poetical element has become subordinate to the speculative and philosophica...

The “Philebus” appears to be one of the later writings of Plato, in which the style has begun to alter, and the dramatic and poetical element has become subordinate to the speculative and philosophica...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Protarchus Philebus Socrates: Observe, Protarchus, the nature of the position which you are now going to take from Philebus, and what the other position is which I ma...

The genuineness of the Laws is sufficiently proved (1) by more than twenty citations of them in the writings of Aristotle, who was residing at Athens during the last twenty years of the life of Plato,...

The genuineness of the Laws is sufficiently proved (1) by more than twenty citations of them in the writings of Aristotle, who was residing at Athens during the last twenty years of the life of Plato,...

Book I. Strangers, let me ask a question of you⁠—Was a God or a man the author of your laws? “A God, Stranger. In Crete, Zeus is said to have been the author of them; in Sparta, as Megillus will tell ...

The Laws of Plato are essentially Greek: unlike Xenophon’s Cyropaedia, they contain nothing foreign or oriental. Their aim is to reconstruct the work of the great lawgivers of Hellas in a literary for...

Persons of the dialogue: An Athenian Stranger Cleinias (a Cretan) Megillus (a Lacedaemonian) Athenian: Tell me, Strangers, is a God or some man supposed to be the author of your laws? Cleinias: A God,...

Athenian: Tell me, Strangers, is a God or some man supposed to be the author of your laws? Cleinias: A God, Stranger; in very truth a God: among us Cretans he is said to have been Zeus, but in Lacedae...

Athenian: And now we have to consider whether the insight into human nature is the only benefit derived from well-ordered potations, or whether there are not other advantages great and much to be desi...

Athenian: Enough of this. And what, then, is to be regarded as the origin of government? Will not a man be able to judge of it best from a point of view in which he may behold the progress of states a...

Athenian: And now, what will this city be? I do not mean to ask what is or will hereafter be the name of the place; that may be determined by the accident of locality or of the original settlement⁠—a ...

Athenian: Listen, all ye who have just now heard the laws about Gods, and about our dear forefathers:⁠—Of all the things which a man has, next to the Gods, his soul is the most divine and most truly h...

Athenian: And now having made an end of the preliminaries we will proceed to the appointment of magistracies. Cleinias: Very good. Athenian: In the ordering of a state there are two parts: first, the ...

Athenian: And now, assuming children of both sexes to have been born, it will be proper for us to consider, in the next place, their nurture and education; this cannot be left altogether unnoticed, an...

Athenian: Next, with the help of the Delphian oracle, we have to institute festivals and make laws about them, and to determine what sacrifices will be for the good of the city, and to what Gods they ...

Athenian: Next to all the matters which have preceded in the natural order of legislation will come suits of law. Of suits those which relate to agriculture have been already described, but the more i...

Athenian: And now having spoken of assaults, let us sum up all acts of violence under a single law, which shall be as follows: No one shall take or carry away any of his neighbour’s goods, neither sha...

Athenian: In the next place, dealings between man and man require to be suitably regulated. The principle of them is very simple: Thou shalt not, if thou canst help, touch that which is mine, or remov...

Athenian: If a herald or an ambassador carry a false message from our city to any other, or bring back a false message from the city to which he is sent, or be proved to have brought back, whether fro...

It seems impossible to separate by any exact line the genuine writings of Plato from the spurious. The only external evidence to them which is of much value is that of Aristotle; for the Alexandrian c...

It seems impossible to separate by any exact line the genuine writings of Plato from the spurious. The only external evidence to them which is of much value is that of Aristotle; for the Alexandrian c...

The “Lesser Hippias” may be compared with the earlier dialogues of Plato, in which the contrast of Socrates and the Sophists is most strongly exhibited. Hippias, like Protagoras and Gorgias, though ci...

The “Lesser Hippias” may be compared with the earlier dialogues of Plato, in which the contrast of Socrates and the Sophists is most strongly exhibited. Hippias, like Protagoras and Gorgias, though ci...

Persons of the dialogue: Eudicus Socrates Hippias Eudicus: Why are you silent, Socrates, after the magnificent display which Hippias has been making? Why do you not either refute his words, if he seem...

The “First Alcibiades” is a conversation between Socrates and Alcibiades. Socrates is represented in the character which he attributes to himself in the “Apology” of a know-nothing who detects the con...

The “First Alcibiades” is a conversation between Socrates and Alcibiades. Socrates is represented in the character which he attributes to himself in the “Apology” of a know-nothing who detects the con...

Persons of the dialogue: Alcibiades Socrates Socrates: I dare say that you may be surprised to find, O son of Cleinias, that I, who am your first lover, not having spoken to you for many years, when t...

The “Menexenus” has more the character of a rhetorical exercise than any other of the Platonic works. The writer seems to have wished to emulate Thucydides, and the far slighter work of Lysias. In his...

The “Menexenus” has more the character of a rhetorical exercise than any other of the Platonic works. The writer seems to have wished to emulate Thucydides, and the far slighter work of Lysias. In his...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Menexenus Socrates: Whence come you, Menexenus? Are you from the Agora? Menexenus: Yes, Socrates; I have been at the Council. Socrates: And what might you be doing at...

The two dialogues which are translated in the second appendix are not mentioned by Aristotle, or by any early authority, and have no claim to be ascribed to Plato. They are examples of Platonic dialog...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Alcibiades Socrates: Are you going, Alcibiades, to offer prayer to Zeus? Alcibiades: Yes, Socrates, I am. Socrates: you seem to be troubled and to cast your eyes on t...

Much cannot be said in praise of the style or conception of the “Eryxias.” It is frequently obscure; like the exercise of a student, it is full of small imitations of Plato:⁠—Phaeax returning from an ...

Much cannot be said in praise of the style or conception of the “Eryxias.” It is frequently obscure; like the exercise of a student, it is full of small imitations of Plato:⁠—Phaeax returning from an ...

Persons of the dialogue: Socrates Eryxias Erasistratus Critias Scene: The portico of a temple of Zeus. It happened by chance that Eryxias the Steirian was walking with me in the Portico of Zeus the De...

Dedication to the Aeneis. ↩ There have been added also in the Third Edition remarks on other subjects. A list of the most important of these additions is given at the end of this Preface. ↩ Compare Be...