‘Plato (A Very Short Introduction)’ by Julia Annas, Oxford University Press

‘Plato: A Very Short Introduction’ by Julia Annas is a commentary and a introduction for beginners to philosophy of ancient Greek philosopher Plato. Annnas takes a critical approach to Plato’s thought and descriptions, renovates Plato’s philosophy and comments it clearly and concisely by the view and thinking of present-day.

First, in chapter 1, Annas introduces a example of Plato’s way of argument by Jury’s problem. Author writes what is the true brief to gain knowledge Plato thought. Knowledge requires that you acquire the relevant belief for yourself. And Plato’s most famous idea is knowledge is really a sort of ‘recollection’ which not required actual experiences. An example of the knowledge is a geometrical proof. Plato’s ‘theory of forms’ suggests what is true thing and what really we can know.
Chapter 2, author writes family and cultural Plato’s background and his life and career briefly. The teach of Socrates especially method of philosophical argument not making grand theory and doctrine, and emphasis of courage, justice, truth and virtue impressed Plato. Socrates’ thought influenced on teaching in the ‘Academy’ founded by Plato. Plato’s Academy was not a rigid ‘academic’ place like today’s university. The Academy is the centre for discussion. On the other hand Plato is the first systematic philosopher divided logic, physics and ethics, and integrated one principle, and made the word ‘philosophia’ (love of wisdom).
Chapter 3, author introduces Plato’s dialectic method (dramatic form) and its mean. In Plato’s dialogues he detached himself, the authority based on philosophical issues or developments of argument not his character. And author introduces history of interpretations of Platon, from ‘dogmatic’ Platonists and Neo-Platonists (Middle Platonists) to 20th century’s philosophers. Plato’s works were described by different approaches, but it shows development of his thought. establishing distinctive philosophy. Also Plato’s dialectic method presented us to questions to think not answers.
Chapter 4, author criticizes the problem of homoerotic love of Platonic love by gender theory. Plato’s view to love and sex are made by a kind of stoicism to philosophy. He thought, his dialectic method are possible only by arguments among noble men. Plato’s concept of platonic love and thinking of women’s social roles have been discussed from women’s movement19th century to the present. Some people have seen Plato as the first feminist.
In chapter 5, Author argues Plato’s happiness and virtue. Plato’s thought of happiness is abnormal. A well-live life, Plato thought, is the intelligent use of health and wealth, not material advantages. And virtue has a special role and special value. Virtue for Plato is the controlling and defining element in our life. happiness, virtue, virtue in the society and state. Plato’s view to state and government is ideal. Good state should be ruled by elite virtuous citizens. Otherwise democracy would be the worst form of government.
Chapter 6, Plato’s answers to questions about the soul. As an animated body, I function as a unity, but I contain distinct sources of motivation. And the good life is one in which reason rules the whole soul. Soul encourage reason to dominate spirit and desire. And, in Plato’s thought, there’s the disadvantage of the body.
Then, in chapter 7, Annas comments Plato’s view to the world, ontology related to his ethics and virtue. Plato’s thinking to God. Real world is the extent to lead the rational structure of Forms. The Craftsman God made the best world possible because he is good and so wanted the made to be as good as it could be. Plato’s God makes the product, which is an excellent one, but he is not responsible for the ‘Necessity’, the inescapable results by the materials. Plato’s basical element of ontology and knowledge is ideal mathematical knowledge. Forms emerge in front of you as knowledge, belief or various shapes. You can only ‘participate in’ the world of Forms. Then the author concluded Plato institutionalized philosophy, it’s total unified endeavour requires both a systematic pursuit of truth and a radical dependence on argument. And the most important message by him is not believing in Forms or the importance of virtue, but is that we should think and argue to pursuit good and virtue.

Annas’ interpretation on Plato’s philosophy in this book is positive and balanced, and takes advantage of and expands good points of Plato. It’s a fresh and practical approach, not a rigorous and formal one. And her description are concise and essential. Her critic and comment grasp historical contexts totally from the ancient Greek though the modern era to today, and can adapt to actual problems of modern society. But she isn’t make full use of her feminist view point to critique Plato’s the problem of homoerotic love of Platonic love.
In this book Annas concentrates on Plato’s way of argument, method of philosophy, thought to knowledge, mind-body problem, ethics and what it is philosophy for him. But she isn’t deal with Plato’s thought of beauty, logic and language.
This book is a commentary to Plato’s philosophy, not Plato’s itself. And she isn’t take up Plato’s whole philosophy and his entire life. Mainly she argues essence of philosophical method, manner and system of Plato rather than the content of philosophy of Plato. (The essence of Plato’s philosophy that we should obtain from is importance of argument and its development, not fixed theory.) It’s a Julia Annas’s interpretation to philosophy of Plato, and a practice of fixed commentary and interpretation. So this book is only a introduction, but very good introduction to philosophy of Plato for beginners.

Plato (Very Short Introductions)
Julia Annas
Oxford University Press, Oxford, 15 May 2003 
120 pages £7.99 $11.95
ISBN: 978-0-19-280216-3
Contents:
List of illustrations
1. Arguing with Plato
2. Plato’s name, and other matters
3. Drama, fiction, and the elusive author
4. Love, sex, gender, and philosophy
5. Virtue, in me and in my society
6. My soul and myself
7. The nature of things
Refereces
Further Reading
Index

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‘Plato in 90 Minutes’ by Paul Strathern, Ivan R. Dee

‘Plato in 90 Minutes’ by Paul Strathern is a good introduction to Plato’ life and his philosophy. Main content ‘Plato’s Life and Works’ is a Plato’s biography with his theory of philosophy, age and background. It describes from Plato’s early life and Socrates’ pure philosophical approach influenced on Plato. The assertion is “philosophy is not a theory but an activity.” And, Strathern comments theory of Ideas and Forms and the theory influences on Christianity and the Medieval philosophy. Then he describes Plato’s teaching at Academy, political theory of ‘The Republic’, such as concepts of justice and
philosopher-king, which lacks individual freedom and was a precedence of totalitarianism. In the end Strathern comments Theory of love in “The Symposium”.
‘Afterword’ describes some influences by Plato, especially Neoplatonism.

Strathern’s commentaries on Plato’s theory of Forms and political science are excellent and concise. On the other hand, In this book, Strathern points out Plato’s ruins and mistakes as it is. Idealism of Socrates and Plato lost and broke natural scientific viewpoints and approaches to philosophy by Pre-Socratics. And, Plato’s ‘ideal republic’ ruled by the philosopher-king or philosopher-rulers is strange and odd. In this Plato’s utopia, there’re no individual freedom, family life and personal interest. It’s a functional and mechanical state like communist communities or countries, and a root of totalitarianism.

Commentary and description of this book is essential and to the point, and well-balanced of between praise and critic, but it’s only a brief introduction to Plato and his philosophy.

Plato in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes Series)
Paul Strathern
Ivan R. Dee, Chicago, 1 September 1996
89 pages $9.95
ISBN: 978-1-56663-127-3
Contents:
Introduction
Plato’s Life and Works
Afterword
From Plato’s Writings
Chronology of Significant Philosophical Dates
Chronology of Plato’ Life
Chronology of Plato’ Era
Recommended Reading
Index

‘Aristotle in 90 Minutes’ by Paul Strathern, Ivan R. Dee

‘Aristotle in 90 Minutes’ by Paul Strathern is an introduction to Aristotle. This book is a very easy short brief and amusing commentary to Aristotle. The main content ‘Aristotle’s Life & Works’ is a chronologically description of Aristotle’s life along with works and thoughts. ‘Afterword’ describes the influences of Aristotle’s philosophy to islamic world, medieval Christian philosophy and world of nowadays. Strathern introduced Aristotle’s personal and scholarly characteristic, relations with his master Plato and his pupil Alexander the Great, compared Aristotle’s with them. Aristotle is the greatest polymath, thus this book mainly commented on Aristotle’s thoughts of politics, biology, art (drama, poem), logic, aim of philosophy (today’s science, study or scholarship) and ethics.

The remarkable commentary of this book is the differences of fundamental thought and inclination between Aristotle and Plato. ‘Aristotle had a natural inclination toward the practical and the scientific. This led him to view Plato’s ideas from increasingly realistic standpoint. Plato believed that the particular world we perceive around us consists of mere appearances. Thus ultimate reality lies in a further world of idea, which resemble forms or ideals.’ ‘Where Plato’s approach to the world was essentially religious, Aristotle’s tended toward the scientific.’ ‘Where Plato viewed forms as ideas that had a separate existence, Aristotle saw forms (or universals, as he called them) more as essence embodies in the substance of the world, with no separate existence of their own.’

This books is interesting and the most plain guide to Aristotle. I recommend this book utterly beginners to Aristotle and beginners to philosophy.

Aristotle in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes Series)
Paul Strathern
Ivan R. Dee, Chicago, September 1 1996
83 pages $9.95
ISBN: 978-1-56663-125-9
Contents:
Introduction
Aristotle’s Life and Works
Afterword
From Aristotle’s Writing
Chronology of Significant Philosophical Dates
Chronology of Aristotle’s Life
Chronology of Aristotle’s Era
Recommended Reading
Index