Critias

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCEProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.9

Word count: 55K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Critias by PlatoAuthor: Plato, 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Dec 1, 1998

Editor's review

Critias is one of Plato's late dialogues and is generally regarded as a sequel to Timaeus, centering on the legend of Atlantis and the account of an ideal city-state. Though brief, the dialogue contrasts ancient Athens with Atlantis and touches on political order and historical memory, making it an important text for understanding Plato's late thought and the origins of the Atlantis narrative. The English translation provided by Project Gutenberg is free to read and search, and is suitable as an introduction to classical philosophy or as material for focused study. Readers should note the dialogue's unfinished state and not treat it as a complete, standalone Atlantis story; rather, they should grasp its central questions and narrative intent in light of Timaeus and Plato's political thought.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Plato's late dialogues and the Atlantis legend
English-language readers studying classical philosophy or the history of Western thought
Those who want to learn about the early textual source of the Atlantis narrative
Readers with basic English proficiency willing to study a short dialogue

Not a good fit for

General readers expecting a complete Atlantis legend
Beginners with no background in classical philosophy who are unwilling to consult contextual materials
Readers seeking modern scholarly annotations and a detailed introduction

Reading tips

Read the relevant part of Timaeus first, then proceed to Critias to understand how the dialogues connect.
While reading, mark the contrasting accounts of Athens and Atlantis and trace the political and moral issues within them.
Use background materials on Plato's political thought to avoid treating the text as a mere myth.
Note the dialogue's unfinished state and record unresolved questions afterward for further reading.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is the relationship between Critias and Atlantis?

This dialogue is one of Plato's important texts narrating the Atlantis legend and is generally regarded as a sequel to Timaeus, using the contrast between ancient Athens and Atlantis to explore issues of politics and historical memory. However, the dialogue is unfinished, so readers should not expect a complete, standalone Atlantis story.

Can I read this book without a background in philosophy?

You can try, but you will need background materials. The dialogue is short but involves Plato's late political thought and dialogue structure; without any knowledge of Timaeus and related background, it is easy to misread the content as pure myth. It is advisable to consult a brief introduction before turning to the original text.

Does this edition include annotations and an introduction?

According to the given information, this is an English public-domain text released by Project Gutenberg, and the materials do not state that it includes modern scholarly annotations or a detailed introduction. For in-depth study, it is advisable to use an authoritative translation, an annotated edition, or a related research introduction alongside it.

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About the author

Plato, 427？ BCE-347？ BCE Author

Plato (c. 427–347 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher. Reliable details of his life are limited in public sources, and his thought and writings are generally known through later accounts. The library holds 65 of his works, including the multi-volume Republic (Πολιτεία), the Symposium, and the Phaedo. These works are mostly dialogues with Socrates as the central figure, unfolding through question and answer around justice, the governance of the city, love, the soul, and knowledge, combining philosophical inquiry with dramatic literary form. The Republic, which discusses the ideal city and justice, is especially influential. Plato's style is marked by analogy, argument, and open-ended conclusions, and he has had a lasting influence on later Western philosophy and political thought.