Plato: The Symposium (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 1st Edition by Frisbee C. C. Sheffield (PDF)

Description

Plato’s Symposium, written in the early part of the 4th century BC, is set at a drinking party (symposium) attended by some of the leading intellectuals of the day, including Aristophanes, the comic dramatist, Socrates, Plato’s mentor, and Alcibiades, the brilliant but (eventually) treacherous politician. Each guest gives a speech in praise of the benefits of desire and its role in the good and happy human life. At the core of the work stands Socrates’ praise of philosophical desire, and an argument for the superiority of the philosophical life as the best route to happiness. This edition provides an accessible and engaging new translation by M. C. Howatson, and a substantial introduction, by Frisbee C. C. Sheffield, which guides the reader through the various parts of the dialogue and reflects on its central arguments. A chronology and detailed notes on the participants help to set this enduring work in context.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐One of the great masters of Socratic argumentation in the pursuit of the truth.

⭐Better than scotch to relieve depression

⭐Perfect for rookies like me

⭐The Symposium probably compares with the Republic in the number of different it has been translated, even the Romantic Shelley translated it for his peers. It has also produced commentaries, or pastiches, such as Dante’s ‘Convivio’, and Ficino’s ‘De Amore’ – the English translation of which by Sears Jayne has long been out of print. Its subject is love, and consists essentially in a sequence of speeches at what is in effect a dinner-party, in praise of Love. Plato of course, gives the most significant speech to Socrates, who introduces the mysterious figure of Diotima; Diotima not only explains the differences between the heavenly and earthly Venus – to use Ficino’s terms, to Socrates, but the relationship between Love and Beauty, and also introduces the concept of the daemon or guide; we all have our own one that even accompanies the soul after death (cf. Phaedo). The Symposium, is of course not the only dialogue where Love comes under scrutiny, but the use of speeches does give Plato space to develop different perspectives. (For anthologists, there is the excellent ‘Plato on Love’, published by Hackett, which also includes a complete translation of the Symposium, but also extracts from other dialogues, and selections from the Laws and the Republic.)This edition is in the ‘Cambridge texts in the history of Philosophy’ so it is not aimed specifically at would-be Platonists, but rather those interested in the history of philosophy, so it would be useful at both A level (Philosophy) and at undergraduate level. The introduction is not overlong, and follows the tradition of commentary on each part of the text, in chronological order. There is a brief chronology of events from Solon to the death of Alexander, a further reading list, then the translation of the text itself – probably slightly less than half the book, which ends with two glossaries which demonstrate a little extra care in the production: one of Greek words; and the other of names (mentioned in the text). All in all, a very thoughtfully produced edition, which is very clear and accessible.

Keywords

Free Download Plato: The Symposium (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 1st Edition in PDF format
Plato: The Symposium (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 1st Edition PDF Free Download
Download Plato: The Symposium (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 1st Edition 2008 PDF Free
Plato: The Symposium (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 1st Edition 2008 PDF Free Download
Download Plato: The Symposium (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 1st Edition PDF
Free Download Ebook Plato: The Symposium (Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy) 1st Edition