Meisterdenker der Antike

Plato is one of the cornerstones of Greek philosophy. The dialogues are the places where his philosophical project unfolds: the design of an unprecedented knowledge, of a philosophy capable of intertwining and holding together ethics, politics, science and ontology. Plato, however, is not only one of the absolute peaks of Greek philosophy, he is also one of the most important figures in the history of ideas. In this biography, Thomas Alexander Szlezák does not limit himself to bringing us closer to Plato the philosopher, but provides a complete portrait of Plato the man, recovering his historical dimension. And in doing so he reviews the dialogues and letters, addressing central questions such as the authenticity, style and chronology of the works. Against this background, the thought on the State, cosmology, the theory of ideas and that of principles are analyzed and explained in detail, without forgetting to focus on the religious character of Platonic philosophy: the idea of ​​the good, "principle of everything". Thus emerges a well-rounded Plato who, thanks to the surprising vitality of his dialogues, continues to be more relevant than ever.