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Plato, Socrates, and the Dialogues cover art

Plato, Socrates, and the Dialogues

Written by: Michael Sugrue, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Michael Sugrue
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Publisher's Summary

These 16 lectures bring the Socratic quest for truth alive and explore ideas that are as vital today as they were 25 centuries ago - ideas about truth, justice, love, beauty, courage, and wisdom that can change lives and reveal the world in new ways. Here, you'll delve into the inner structure, action, and meaning of 17 of Plato's greatest dialogues, making these lectures an indispensable companion for anyone interested in philosophy in general or Platonic thought in particular.

As you'll learn, the dialogues share some general characteristics - and they all breathe with the feeling, the tension, and even the humor of great theater. Even if you don't have time to reacquaint yourself directly with Platonic texts, you'll benefit enormously from these lectures' insights into the depths of reflection opened by Socrates and Plato - arguably the most important teacher-student pairing in history.

You'll become engrossed in "the romance of the intellect," as Professor Sugrue opens a path for you into the inner structure and action of these selected dialogues, for millennia the objects of devoted study by the noblest minds. These lectures offer no easy answers. What they give instead is much better: an introduction to Platonic "meta-education," the art not of what to think but of how to think. You'll see the stunning subtlety with which Plato weaves together the strengths of philosophy and poetry, dialectic and drama, word and action. And you'll catch a glimpse of the "serious playfulness" that Socrates says the search for the good, the true, and the beautiful can inspire in the human soul.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1996 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)1996 The Great Courses

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Brief but deep discovery of Plato

Brilian presentation of the core concepts of Plato philosophy from a scholar's point of view. Some of the interpretations of some aspects of dialouges could be arguable, nevertheless, this is what you expect to hear from a scholar to put forward some insights that are novel and is different from what you read in other sources

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excellent summary of the dialogues

The author's passion and enthusiasm for the dialogues and for Plato and Socrates makes it enjoyable to listen to these lectures. I found these very helpful as I had a lot of questions after reading some of the dialogues, especially questions about Socrates.
Best of luck to everyone else out there trying to know themselves and living an examined life.

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Excellent Experience

I had just read The Republic for the first time prior to this course. I recommend that you listen to this course before reading Socrates or Plato.

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Sensational Account and Overview

What a sheer delight it has been listening to Professor Sugrue. He is so involved in the subject matter - heart, mind and soul. His rapid, expressive delivery is worthy of a stage production; his ability to bring to life and infuse with meaning noble people from the past; his clear understanding of and belief in his subject matter, all combine to sweep you away and into the theatre of ancient Athens. Except it was no theatre - this was real life and these matters mattered! Lecture thirteen on Phaedrus - Hymn to love, left me weeping. Hesitating to buy. Hesitate no more.

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Thank you, Professor Sugrue.

I really enjoyed this. The delivery, wit, passion, humour, intelligence, and the thoughtful care Professor Sugrue gives to the dialogues does them a great deal more than justice.

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Wonderful Introduction

Wow! Both easy to follow and dense in content. I especially love his appreciation for the beauty of Plato. I was often moved when reading him back in school and that element of his genius seems to be often overlooked. Furthermore, this series really reminded me how relevant Plato is for the challenges we face today, not only philosophically, or politically, but also as individuals (... well at least for me). Five stars!

#audible1

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Really Great!

I jumped into this having spent a couple weeks on Plato in university & wondering about the reading order. In the end, I think this course is brilliant & the readings came together beautifully. By the time one gets to the final couple of dialogues you'll be reading Plato with more clarity & they will so much better for it. Michael Sugrue has really studied these texts & these lectures go far beyond any other free source I had found on YouTube & Khan. Highly recommended!

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very interesting representation of plato

the lecturer was truly good interpreting platonism in a new light and made it easy to understand

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