The Works of Plato

Henry Cary's literal English translation of Plato opens a doorway into some of the most famous arguments in classical philosophy, from the trial of Socrates to the origins of civic virtue. Close to the Greek yet designed for clarity, the volume gathers major dialogues including The Apology of Socrates, Crito, Phaedo, Gorgias, Protagoras, Phaedrus, Theaetetus, Euthyphron, and Lysis. At the center is The Apology, where Socrates defends himself against charges of impiety and corrupting the young without resorting to polished rhetoric or pleas for pity. He traces his reputation to the Delphic oracle, his questioning of politicians, poets, and craftsmen, and his discovery that many mistake skill or reputation for wisdom. In a forceful cross-examination of Meletus, he exposes contradictions in the prosecution, including the claim that he is both godless and a believer in spiritual signs. The surrounding discussion broadens into a searching inquiry into whether virtue can be taught, with Protagoras answering through myths of Prometheus, Zeus, and Hermes to argue that justice and civic excellence must be shared by all if society is to endure. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.