Plato

Ancient Greek philosopher (born c. 428/427 BCE, died c. 348/347 BCE), student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy, and author of philosophical dialogues including The Republic.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Alcibiades I And Ii

    A spirited young would‑be statesman seeks a teacher to make him great in public life, and the interlocutor subjects his ambition to a relentless inquiry: without self‑knowledge and the cultivation of the soul, political office and honors are worthless. The conversations expose the difference between true knowledge and mere opinion or rhetoric, condemn the empty promises of sophists, and stress that virtue, not prestige or technique, must guide action; a related discussion turns to prayer and piety, urging people to ask the gods for what truly benefits the soul rather than for conventional rewards, and warning repeatedly that ignorance about the good is the real obstacle to honorable leadership.

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