Plato: A Complete Introduction: Teach Yourself

What were Plato's key ideas and what did he have to say about politics, ethics, art, religion, love, truth, and beauty?Plato is certainly one of the most important and influential thinkers in history and one who remains relevant to the concerns of our modern world. He is also frequently misunderstood and can be complex. This book examines the key ideas and explains them in a way that someone who is uninitiated into the world of Plato, or philosophy generally, can gain insights into his life, his legacy, what he had to say and why it is still relevant. Written by a leading expert, it is a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use introduction to understanding Plato's philosophy, providing added-value features like definitions, links, reading lists, quotes and examples of questions you might be asked in a seminar or exam. Written in an accessible style that presumes no prior knowledge of Plato and doesn't confuse with unnecessary jargon, Plato: A Complete Introduction supports you as you make sense of the key ideas, encouraging you to develop your understanding and assess your own progress.Whether you are preparing for an essay, studying for an exam or simply want to expand your knowledge, Plato: A Complete Introduction is your essential guide. Roy Jackson is a Reader in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Gloucestershire in Cheltenham. He has previously lectured in Philosophy and Religion at various universities, including Kent, Durham, and King's College London. He specialises in Philosophy of Religion, Nietzsche, and contemporary Islamic thought in relation to ethics, philosophy and politics and has written a number of books on Nietzsche, Plato, Philosophy of Religion, and Islam.'Remarkable in its scope, this book not only outlines all of Plato's dialogues, but also traces his context in early Greek thought and his legacy. It does indeed provide a 'complete introduction' to this seminal thinker. Clear and accessible, but really substantial in its coverage, Jackson's style is ideal for a book at this level. It should appeal equally to students and to the general reader seeking to deepen his or her knowledge of Plato and thus of the starting point for so much Western thought and culture' Dr Mel Thompson