Plato, Selected Myths
Descriere
'Once upon a time there were just the gods; mortal beings did not yet exist.' We are used to thinking of myths as stories, and modern myths as made up and fictitious. For the ancient Greeks, however, a myth was a story that unveiled reality, and for Plato, myth-maker as well as myth-teller, a myth could tell us something important about ourselves and our world. The ultimate purpose of Plato's myths is to help us live a better life, and to teach philosophical truths in a form we can most easily understand. This volume brings together ten of the most celebrated Platonic myths, from eight of Plato's dialogues ranging from the early Protagoras and Gorgias to the late Timaeus and Critias. They include the famous myth of the cave from Republic as well as 'The Judgement of Souls' and 'The Birth of Love'. Each myth is a self-contained story, prefaced by a short explanatory note, while the introduction considers Plato's use of myth and imagery. These myths are thought-provoking and profound, and together they provide an ideal introduction to Plato's philosophy. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. ISBN-10: 019955255X Philosophy, History & Surveys, Ancient & Classical, Religion, Ancient, Social Science, Folklore & Mythology Edition: 1 Pages: 208 Dimensions: 19.3 x 12.7 x 1.52 cm Weight: 0.157 kg
Despre autor
Platon a fost un filozof al Greciei antice și fondatorul Academiei din Atena. Este considerat o figură centrală pentru dezvoltarea filosofiei, în special a tradiției Occidentale. Spre deosebire de ceilalți filosofi contemporani ai săi, întreaga operă a lui Platon se presupune că a supraviețuit intactă pentru mai bine de 2500 de ani.