Dialogues with Socrates

Plato (circa 428-348 BC) — an ancient Greek idealist philosopher, founder of his own philosophical school, and a student of Socrates. According to tradition, on the day he met Plato, Socrates had a prophetic dream: a white swan pressed against his chest and then flew up so high that it almost disappeared from sight. The swan, as a symbol of the god Apollo, clarifies the meaning of the dream: no matter how much you teach your student, in the most important matters, you will be learning from him. The friendship between the older and younger philosophers lasted until Socrates' execution in 399 BC. The "Dialogues" – are unique writings that are part of what is called the "Platonic corpus" of works preserved to this day. This edition consists of four dialogues in which Socrates acts as the main character. In "Crito," he explains that one should not commit injustice not only towards people but also towards laws. In "Symposium," he believes that in love we should see not only emotions but also a cultural element. And in "Phaedrus," continuing his thought, he says that it is love that perfects the immortal soul of a man and awakens his best qualities and aspirations. In "Phaedo," Socrates reveals his idea that one should respect another's sense of justice without imposing one's own. All texts are accompanied by detailed commentaries.