Dialogues of Plato

Volume 4 of this 1871 work represents an important contribution to the study of Plato in the English-speaking world.

In this four-volume set first published in 1871, the leading Greek scholar and academic Benjamin Jowett translates into English the dialogues of one of the world's greatest philosophers. In Volume 4 he discusses Plato's last work, the Laws, together with three additional writings of questionable authorship.One of the leading scholars and academic administrators of his time, Benjamin Jowett (1817–1893) was Master of Balliol College as well as Regius Professor of Greek and, for a time, vice-chancellor at Oxford University. Along with his achievements in the area of academic reform, Jowett is remembered for this four-volume translation of Plato's dialogues. Characterising Plato as the 'father of idealism', Jowett reminds readers that while 'he may be illustrated by the writings of moderns … he must be interpreted by his own, and by his place in the history of philosophy'. In this final volume, Plato's last dialogue, the Laws, is presented together with an introduction by Jowett. Three pieces of questionable authorship also appear in an appendix. Jowett's work represents a towering achievement in the field of classical and philosophical studies that had important influence on the subsequent study of Plato.