Symposium, the Apology, and the Allegory of the Cave

De: Plato, Benjamin Jowett - translator

Narrado por: Jonathan Cowley

This collection brings together three of Plato's most enduring classics: the "Symposium", the "Apology", and the famous "Allegory of the Cave" from the Republic. The "Symposium", a dialogue on the nature and purpose of love centered around the ideals of beauty and goodness, is arguably the deepest inquiry of its kind in Western philosophy. The "Apology", Plato's account of the speech given by Socrates at his trial in 399 BC, constitutes an essential defense of Socrates' life and philosophy. Finally, the "Allegory of the Cave", written as a fictional dialogue between Socrates and Plato's brother, Glaucon, is a profound commentary on the human understanding of reality. This edition is the translation by Benjamin Jowett.

Public Domain (P)2011 Tantor

a classic, but... the commentary?

very much enjoyed the work itsself as it is a classic and well worth reading, however this version had as much commentary as it had of origional work, and almost all of the commentary was a line by line recital of the work itsself.
"then they talked to plato"
then the actual text later
"plato spoke next"
just kinda silly, might as well drop the commentary and read the origional work twice.
to whoever wrote the commentary: you can do better.

most of it was great

ancient philosophers talking about love and sleeping with beautiful boys. I guess that was normal back then.
the apology and allegory is where things turned out very good

Existential questions answered

The apology is the best answer to the meaning of life.

Either death is like one night of sleep, and the best night of sleep you can ever have or offers a pathway to eternity and speaking with those who have died in greatness

A really great compilation of books

A fantastic group of stories that are really outstanding. I found much relation in the works and I highly recommend this audio book.

absorbing

Would you listen to Symposium, the Apology, and the Allegory of the Cave again? Why?

yes - especially the symposium. takes multiple listens.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

decription of Socrates as a soldier in the SYmposium

What does Jonathan Cowley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The even pacing foregrounds the ideas