Lysis. Symposium. Phaedrus (Loeb Classical Library 166)

I adore Socrates / Plato, and I also adore the Loeb versions of these incredibly engaging texts. This little, green book actually fits quite comfortably in a jacket pocket, and is therefore utterly portable, to be read whenever and wherever the whim entices indulgence. For those who aren't familiar with the Loeb Library, each book contains the original Classical language on the left-hand page with a reasonably literal translation on the right. They are ideal for developing an appreciation of the elegance of classical authors. This book contains the Lysis (dealing with friendship), the Symposium (exploring love, from the viewpoints of the various members of an ancient drinking party) and the Gorgias. This book is worth it just for the third text. It is simply excellent. The Gorgias consists of the self-effacing Socrates, armed with a most generous helping of his renowned irony, quizzing a rhetorician and others about the concept of rhetoric / oration. The modern parallel would be that of a lovable, roguish comedian tying spin doctors / marketing managers / politicians in hilarious knots. This really is welcome medicine in our world of politicians being unable to answer a simple question, or of business people using unnecessarily vague language to hide deceit or failure. Socrates actually gives his own definition of rhetoric, and it is cutting, yet clarity itself - I shan't spoil it; read the book! Given that Socrates normally professes to know only that he knows nothing, this opinion is either Plato's, or maybe the snub-nosed Athenian philosopher really did have it in for rhetoricians. Bearing in mind that this dialogue was written approximately 2400 years ago, it is disappointing to see how little has changed, that our society seems to delight in being taken in by shallow tricksters selling emporer's new clothes to the image-conscious. Would that we had a Socrates today!

Good book. A lot of translation notes that delve into ethymology and greek linguistics. Also has good introductions that provide context necessary for understanding the text. Ideal for a compreehensive perspective on the dialogues.

item arrived in good condition

During my graduate years, I read Symposium and imagined being a guest at Plato’s dinner party, listening to their debates and discussions on the topic of love. After all these years, I am eager to revisit this dialogue and reflect on my past and present thoughts. It’s a delight to have this Loeb Classics edition, which includes the additional dialogues of Lysis and Phaedrus. If I recall correctly, Phaedrus is the only dialogue where Socrates’ conversation takes place outside the city of Athens, which is quite intriguing.

Ancient Greek philosophy at its best.

Vale a pena a qualidade e a tradução!