Alcibiades II

PlatoProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.6

Word count: 33K words
Chapters: 4

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.Alcibiades II by PlatoAuthor: Plato (spurious and doubtful works), 427? BCE-347? BCE,Language: English, Class: PA: Language and Literatures: Classical Languages and Literature, Release Date: Mar 1, 1999

Editor's review

Alcibiades II (Alcibiades Minor) is a short Platonic dialogue traditionally attributed to Plato, though scholars dispute its authenticity; Project Gutenberg labels it among spurious and doubtful works, a label worth noting as background for reading. The dialogue unfolds as a conversation between Socrates and the young Alcibiades, centering on questions such as what good advice is and how knowledge connects to action; it is brief but sets the tension between political ambition and self-knowledge before the reader. For readers who want a taste of Plato's early dialogue style without starting with a major work, it is an accessible entry point; for those studying Platonic texts and questions of authenticity, it offers a sample for analysis. One caveat: this is an English public-domain e-book whose text lacks modern translation notes and an introduction, so readers must supply background themselves, and the reading experience will vary by edition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Beginners seeking an initial look at how Platonic dialogues are written
Readers interested in classical political philosophy and the education of the young
Classics students who need to study questions of authenticity in Plato's works
Readers used to English public-domain texts who can verify background themselves

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking detailed notes and line-by-line interpretation
General readers who only want Plato's公认 core works
Readers uncomfortable with English originals or the classical dialogue form

Reading tips

Read the first few pages to confirm you can adapt to the pace of Socratic question-and-answer.
Jot down the key concepts Socrates probes as you read, and afterward check whether they were answered.
Read alongside an introductory article on the authenticity question to understand what 'doubtful work' means.
It is short; read it in one sitting to avoid losing the thread of the dialogue's logic.

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

Did Plato really write this dialogue?

The material labels it among spurious and doubtful works, meaning its traditional attribution is disputed and scholars have not agreed it comes from Plato himself. While reading, focus on the text's own mode of argument rather than rushing to settle authorship, and note how introductory materials discuss the question.

Can I understand it without notes?

This e-book is an English public-domain text that usually lacks modern translation notes and an introduction. The dialogue is short and the language not very difficult, but it involves ancient Greek politics and education, so keep a reliable translator's introduction or relevant encyclopedia entry at hand and check names and allusions as you go.

Is it a good first Plato book?

It can serve as a taste, but is not necessarily the best starting point. It is short and accessible, conveying the dialogue style; but since its authenticity is doubtful, if you want an overall grasp of Plato's thought, rely mainly on the公认 core dialogues and treat this as supplementary reading.

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About the author

Plato Author · Ancient Greek

Plato (c. 427 BCE–347 BCE) was an ancient Greek philosopher, a student of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle. He was born in Athens around 427 BCE and died in 347 BCE. He founded the Academy and laid the foundations of Western philosophy with his dialogues. The four works listed here—Alcibiades I, Lesser Hippias, Alcibiades II, and Eryxias—are spurious or doubtful dialogues attributed to him. Public information on their exact dating, authorship, and transmission is limited; they generally unfold as Socratic dialogues dealing with ethical, political, and educational questions. In classical scholarship they have long been discussed as part of the reception of Plato's works, and their style and thought have also influenced later research on the authenticity of the Platonic corpus.