Critias (Illustrated Edition)

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, History, Criticism, & Surveys, Ancient, Ancient History, Greece
Cover of the book Critias (Illustrated Edition) by Plato, Charles River Editors
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Plato ISBN: 9781475304800
Publisher: Charles River Editors Publication: April 1, 2012
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Plato
ISBN: 9781475304800
Publisher: Charles River Editors
Publication: April 1, 2012
Imprint:
Language: English
In 427 B.C., the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens was flourishing. Approximately 80 years earlier, the Athenians had formed the first self-representative democracy in history, the Peloponnesian War against Sparta had only just started, and Socrates was only beginning to lay the foundation of what would become Western philosophy. That year Plato was born to a wealthy family: with an uncle who was close friends with Socrates, Plato was seemingly destined to become a philosopher. By the end of his life, Plato had indeed become the foremost philosopher of his time, and perhaps the most famous philosopher in Western history. Like many males of the period, Plato served in the military and dreamed of a political career. And Plato did hold political office after the Peloponnesian War ended in 404 B.C., but around that time he also became a loyal follower of Socrates, who was teaching philosophy at an academy in Athens. None of Socrates works survived antiquity, so most of what is known about him came from the writings of his followers, most notably Plato. What is known about Socrates is that he seemed to make a career out of philosophy, and Plato was intent on following in his footsteps. Yet for all of the influence of Socrates life on Plato, it was Socrates death around 399 B.C. that truly shaped him. Plato was so embittered by Socrates trial in Athens that he completely soured on Athenian democracy, and he began to travel around the Mediterranean, studying topics like mathematics, honing his approach to philosophical thinking, and continuing to refine his philosophical beliefs. About a decade later, Plato returned to Athens and founded his famous Platonic Academy around 387 B.C., which he oversaw for 40 years until his death. One of Platos philosophical beliefs was that writing down teachings was less valuable than passing them down orally, and several of Platos writings are responses to previous writings of his, so Platos personally held beliefs are hard to discern. However, Plato educated several subsequent philosophers, chief among them Aristotle, and his writings eventually formed the backbone of Western philosophy. Critias is the second of a projected trilogy of dialogues, preceded by Timaeus and followed by Hermocrates, though the latter was possibly never written and Critias was left incomplete. Because of their resemblance (e.g. in terms of persons appearing), modern classicists occasionally combine both Timaeus and Critias as Timaeus-Critias. In the dialogues Timaeus and Critias, Plato discusses political philosophy and makes the first mention of the Lost City of Atlantis, which he described in Timaeus as an island which was larger than Libya and Asia together. Plato continued, Now in this island of Atlantis there existed a confederation of kings, of great and marvelous power, which held sway over all the island, and over many other islands also and parts of the continent. Plato wrote that Atlantis disappeared under the sea in a single day.
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
In 427 B.C., the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens was flourishing. Approximately 80 years earlier, the Athenians had formed the first self-representative democracy in history, the Peloponnesian War against Sparta had only just started, and Socrates was only beginning to lay the foundation of what would become Western philosophy. That year Plato was born to a wealthy family: with an uncle who was close friends with Socrates, Plato was seemingly destined to become a philosopher. By the end of his life, Plato had indeed become the foremost philosopher of his time, and perhaps the most famous philosopher in Western history. Like many males of the period, Plato served in the military and dreamed of a political career. And Plato did hold political office after the Peloponnesian War ended in 404 B.C., but around that time he also became a loyal follower of Socrates, who was teaching philosophy at an academy in Athens. None of Socrates works survived antiquity, so most of what is known about him came from the writings of his followers, most notably Plato. What is known about Socrates is that he seemed to make a career out of philosophy, and Plato was intent on following in his footsteps. Yet for all of the influence of Socrates life on Plato, it was Socrates death around 399 B.C. that truly shaped him. Plato was so embittered by Socrates trial in Athens that he completely soured on Athenian democracy, and he began to travel around the Mediterranean, studying topics like mathematics, honing his approach to philosophical thinking, and continuing to refine his philosophical beliefs. About a decade later, Plato returned to Athens and founded his famous Platonic Academy around 387 B.C., which he oversaw for 40 years until his death. One of Platos philosophical beliefs was that writing down teachings was less valuable than passing them down orally, and several of Platos writings are responses to previous writings of his, so Platos personally held beliefs are hard to discern. However, Plato educated several subsequent philosophers, chief among them Aristotle, and his writings eventually formed the backbone of Western philosophy. Critias is the second of a projected trilogy of dialogues, preceded by Timaeus and followed by Hermocrates, though the latter was possibly never written and Critias was left incomplete. Because of their resemblance (e.g. in terms of persons appearing), modern classicists occasionally combine both Timaeus and Critias as Timaeus-Critias. In the dialogues Timaeus and Critias, Plato discusses political philosophy and makes the first mention of the Lost City of Atlantis, which he described in Timaeus as an island which was larger than Libya and Asia together. Plato continued, Now in this island of Atlantis there existed a confederation of kings, of great and marvelous power, which held sway over all the island, and over many other islands also and parts of the continent. Plato wrote that Atlantis disappeared under the sea in a single day.

More books from Charles River Editors

Cover of the book Heracles by Plato
Cover of the book Scientific War by Plato
Cover of the book The Worlds Famous Orations by Plato
Cover of the book A Jesuit Cardinal, Robert Bellarmine by Plato
Cover of the book British Legends: The Life and Legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales by Plato
Cover of the book Legendary Pirates: The Life and Legacy of Mary Read by Plato
Cover of the book Mao Tse-tung on Guerrilla Warfare by Plato
Cover of the book On Fractures (Illustrated Edition) by Plato
Cover of the book Self-Made Men by Plato
Cover of the book The Miraculous Revenge by Plato
Cover of the book Berties Christmas Eve by Plato
Cover of the book Electra by Plato
Cover of the book History of Greece, Volume 1: Legendary Greece by Plato
Cover of the book The Civil Wars by Plato
Cover of the book A Treatise of Civil Power by Plato
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy