Gorgias (Penguin Classics)

by Plato

Other authorsWalter Hamilton (Translator)

Paperback, 1973

Status

Available

Call number

170

Genres

Publication

Penguin Classics (1973), Edition: New Impression, 160 pages

Description

The Gorgias is a vivid introduction to central problems of moral and political philosophy. In answer to an eloquent attack on morality as conspiration of the weak against the strong, Plato develops his own doctrine, insisting that the benefits of being moral always outweigh any benefits to bewon from immorality. He applies his views to such questions as the errors of democracy, the role of the political expert in society, and the justification of punishment.In the notes to this translation, Professor Irwin discusses the historical and social context of the dialogue, expounds and criticizes the arguments, and tries above all to suggest the questions a modern reader ought to raise about Plato's doctrines.

User reviews

LibraryThing member blake.rosser

Definitely the most engaging of Plato's dialogues that I've read. Socrates' sarcasm is off the charts, and he just destroys his Sophist opponents.

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LibraryThing member Lukerik

A little note light compared to more recent penguin editions of this sort of thing, but a fair trade off for the quality of the translation. Clearly written and does well at bringing out the speakers' tone. Socrates is in fine fettle in this dialogue, angry and sarcastic, and you can see how

annoying he must have been. There's some really nice stuff relating to his death in the argument with Callicles, but that with Polus is the stand out argument for me. The idea that it's better to suffer wrong than inflict it is a reversal so huge it's really Socrates' version of turning the tables in the temple. My favourite bit though was the equation of crime with illness. I did something a few years ago that, not being illegal in this country, I wasn't punished for. I've never really come to terms with it because I never got to take my medicine.

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LibraryThing member Lukerik

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LibraryThing member DanielSTJ

A solid Platonic dialogue.

LibraryThing member jonfaith

We should devote all our own and our community's energies towards ensuring the presence of justice and self-discipline, and so guaranteeing happiness.

So Socrates wanted to make Athens great again and along the way gave the pundits and consultants the what for. His argument is measured and allows

the three stooges to defeat their own assertions in fits of bumbling exasperation. The virtues of work and health are explored with nary a word about the lamp above the Golden Door. This notion of moderation was embraced during the Enlightenment but has recently fell from grace Quoting The Tick, Evil wears every possible mitten. That said the argument of the good, the moral hinges here on a tiny necessity, the afterworld , a world of never ending happiness, you can always see the sun, day or night.

Well the current corruption of these words Good and Great have launched their own raid on the Dialogues. Plato asserts most of politics is flattery and power. Socrates knew that and wound up on a state sponsored trip across the Styx.

All we can do is resist. Resist.

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LibraryThing member drbrand

Argument after argument can be proved wrong, but just one holds its ground—that we have to take greater care to avoid doing wrong than we do to avoid suffering wrong, and that above all else we must concentrate not on making people believe that we're good, but on being good, in our private lives

as well as in public.

Solid translation with great commentary.

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