Plato
Ancient Greek philosopher (student of Socrates, teacher of Aristotle), founder of the Academy in Athens and author of philosophical dialogues including the Republic, Phaedo, and Symposium.
Books
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.
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1. Plato's Ion
A probing dialogue in which Socrates questions a celebrated rhapsode about the source of his skill in reciting and interpreting epic poetry, challenging the claim that such talent is a form of technical expertise. Through cross-examination, Socrates exposes the performer’s inability to generalize or explain his art beyond Homeric passages and argues that his excellence stems from divine inspiration or possession rather than practiced knowledge, prompting broader reflections on the nature of artistic genius, persuasion, and the distinction between true expertise and inspired performance.
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