Symposium, the Apology, and the Allegory of the Cave

Name: Symposium, the Apology, and the Allegory of the Cave
Brand: Tantor Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Plato
ISBN: 9781452671628

Author: Plato

Narrator: Jonathan Cowley

Unabridged: 4 hr 58 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 03/31/2011

Categories: Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Philosophy, Language Arts, History & Surveys

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included

Synopsis

This collection brings together three of Plato's most enduring classics: the Symposium, the Apology, and the famous "Allegory of the Cave" from the Republic.

The Symposium, a dialogue on the nature and purpose of love centered around the ideals of beauty and goodness, is arguably the deepest inquiry of its kind in Western philosophy. The Apology, Plato's account of the speech given by Socrates at his trial in 399 BC, constitutes an essential defense of Socrates' life and philosophy. Finally, the "Allegory of the Cave," written as a fictional dialogue between Socrates and Plato's brother, Glaucon, is a profound commentary on the human understanding of reality. This edition is the translation by Benjamin Jowett.

About Plato

Plato (427-347 B.C.) was a classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, writer, and student of Socrates. Most of his works, which form some of the core foundations of Western philosophy, are written in the form of dialogues, in which Socrates often figures prominently. His best-known writings include the Republic, the Apology, the Symposium, Crito, and Statesman. Plato's work addresses such diverse themes as the nature of love, human knowledge and understanding, and the ideal form of government.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Roger on October 03, 2023

Plato's classic discussion on love, "Symposium", accompanied by "The Apology" of Socrates and the allegory of the cave from "The Republic". I was slightly surprised, in this edition, that so much time in the introduction was spent explaining that, although "Symposium" has many references to love betw......more

Goodreads review by Sara on August 20, 2023

I mainly wanted to the read the Allegory of the Cave which I understood best and was my favorite. I like how it uses a simple scenario to discuss a much deeper concept: What is reality? The Symposium is a banquet scene in which Socrates and other prominent men of Athens discuss Love (Eros.) The discu......more

Goodreads review by Valerie on July 01, 2024

Probably not the book's fault...one of my goals this year was to read a wider variety of stuff. And the Allegory of the Cave has been on my to-do list for awhile. The Symposium was brutal to listen to, but the Apology and the Allegory of the Cave were easier on my very-out-of-practice brain.......more

Goodreads review by Elizabeth on September 25, 2022

A must read for all seekers of truth and greater understanding of love.......more

Goodreads review by Thomas on August 06, 2024

I suppose if I had read through this carefully, parsed each word and sentence, and had then taken the time to really think about it, I would've gotten a lot more out of this. The problem is I'm not that much of a student of Plato. I'm just satisfying my curiosity. Anyway, off to the next one.......more