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/lit/ - Literature

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14500656 No.14500656 [Reply] [Original]

I'm not well acquainted with books and rarely read them. But i'm intrigued by the quotes i've heard from the man and would like to be pointed to where the good stuff is.

Anything you guys can recommend?

>> No.14500660

The Republic and Laws are his best/most important works.

:3

>> No.14500662

>>14500656
Read Symposium first before The Republic

>> No.14500666

>>14500656
>>14500660
Which are the quotes? Post them and I will recommend the dialogues most suited to your interest.

>> No.14500667

You can definitely read The Republic first

>> No.14500670

>>14500656
>The Republic
>Timaeus
>Parmenides
>Laws

Are his best works, but Phaedrus is a favourite. Start with The Republic or Plato Five dialogues.

>> No.14500671

>>14500666
“In politics we presume that everyone who knows how to get votes knows how to administer a city or a state. When we are ill... we do not ask for the handsomest physician, or the most eloquent one.”

“good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws”

>> No.14500676

>>14500670
https://www.myinstants.com/instant/hehehe-thank-you/

>> No.14500679

>>14500656
Start with the trial and death of Socrates.

>> No.14500680

>>14500671
That's got to be The Republic. Sounds like The Republic. :3

Laws has very few of those pithy/philosophical statements. It is most similar to the Old Testament, very heavy on the legal requirements and regulations side, although if you are willing to put in the effort, there is a lot of wisdom within that document. Moreso than The Republic in my opinion.

>> No.14500686

>>14500656
>>14500662
In all honesty, read The Symposium, Timaeus, Phaedo and Phaedrus before reading The Republic.
Furthermore, in my opinion, you should read them, then read Plotinus' On Beauty, The Three Initial Hypostases, On Love, About the Descent of the Soul into Bodies and On the One and Good. Then, and only then, read The Republic. Use it as a recapitulation and summary of all read before- you will be ready to realize its beauty and density.

>> No.14500688

>>14500679
This, unironically. It's rather short and covers a wide variety of topics. Republic is his most well known but rather long, Laws is his most difficult, kind of an exist-level work, and Symposium is an easy read but specifically about Love.

>> No.14500691

>>14500688
>exist-level
*exit-level

>> No.14500692

>>14500671
It sound like you are interested in the exoteric aspect of Plato's doctrine. That's a shame.
Know that Plato's "politics" are the mere carcass of his thought.

>> No.14500693

>>14500686
>Timaeus,

He would be better off reading Aristotle's Metaphysics. :3

OP, if you're going to read Plato's Timaeus, just read the counterpart, Aristotle's Metaphysics right after.

>> No.14500699

>>14500693
Skip Aristotle and just read The Enneads. :3

>> No.14500701

>>14500699
Not me

>> No.14500702

>>14500699
>>14500701
Not me either :3

>> No.14500728
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14500728

>>14500676
Welcome
>>14500686
>read The Symposium, Timaeus and Phaedrus before reading The Republic.

No, you should start with the Republic(save five dialogues), then read everything else by Plato, then end with the Republic.

>> No.14500740

>>14500728
Perhaps it's a valid way too. Although, as he won't be able to truly understand the richness of The Republic if he starts with it, it's almost a shame to tell him to do so. If he could ally the comprehension of Plotinus and of those mentioned dialogues with the freshness and beauty of encountering such a never read, fascinating text, I'd be better.