Plato's Shadow: A Primer on Plato - Hardback

An overview and outline of all of Plato’s dialogues 

This new edition provides the student and general reader with a comprehensive overview of the thought of Plato, Socrates, and the pre-Socratic philosophers. It includes an introduction to their lives and times, and—for the first time—a précis of each of Plato’s dialogues, among which the Apology, Laches, Gorgias, Symposium, Phaedrus, Phaedo, Meno, Timaeus, Theaetetus, Republic, and 17 others.

Includes commentaries on six key dialogues (Gorgias, Meno, Phaedo, Phaedrus, Republic, and Theaetetus) which span the full breadth of Plato’s dazzling middle period. Taken together, these six dialogues disclose all his major themes and reveal the progression of his style and thought.

About the author

Dr Neel Burton is a philosopher and psychiatrist who lives and teaches in Oxford, England. His other books include The Gang of Three; Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, How to Think Like Plato and Speak Like Cicero, and Aristotle’s Universe.

Editorial reviews

A succinct précis of the work of one of the world’s greatest and most influential thinkers … For the newcomer or undergraduate it’s a great resource, being both a celebration of and an introduction to some of the most remarkable, beautiful, provocative, powerful, and vital writings in Western literature. —The Good Web Guide

This book provides a tremendously useful service to anyone studying Plato, or to the more general reader … It is an essential addition to the library of any serious student of Plato—which, given his undiminished importance, should be every philosopher! —Philosophy Online

An invaluable, indispensable guide that avoids the usual one-sided approach to Plato… even the ordering of the dialogues makes sense. I shall certainly be recommending it to my students. —Dr Alan Cardew, University of Essex