The Great Dialogues of Plato?

Question

I have to read The Great Dialogues of Plato for a class and I was just wondering if anyone could fill me in on a little pre-reading knowledge that I might need to know about. And I'm not really a philosophy buff either, despite my answers icon, so anything would be helpful.

Answer 1

Plato Dialogues are fantastic. If schools used Plato's system, we'd be a whole lot better off. The idea is to engage in dialogue--another words--knowledge does not go in a one way direction from the teacher to the student. Everyone is respected but that doesn't mean your ideas will be considered good. If you think about it, all great ideas and inventions were created through some sort of dialogue: the Wright brothers studied aerodynamics from others, then added their own ideas. Actually, the significance of the Dialogues is so vast, one can't really discuss it all here. But the thing to focus on is the method of instruction and discussion, not necessarily the topic of discussion.

Answer 2

It is important to understand (or at least try to!) the key character of those dialogues: Socrates. I suggest an encyclopedia, or even wikipedia, to get information about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socrates

Then, I suggest to start with... the end: the Apology of Socrates, i.e. the three speeches which he delivers during his trial in Athens. That trial is one of the key moments in the history of philosophy, and his speeches are an excellent introduction to the Socratic method and the themes developed by Plato.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apology_(Plato)

All the best!

Answer 3

Plato thought that everything in the material world owes its existence to a perfect, eternal, and unchanging idea from which it is molded. He called these ideas 'forms'. Forms of abstract notions such as courage and justice serve as ideals for people to strive toward.
Plato argued that philosophers make the best leaders because they are wise and less likely to act irrationally.
Hence, Plato thought women and men are equally capable of ruling.

Answer 4

i do no longer think of I even have any genuine specific skills. some like the way I write. i will carry out a little paintings. I even have written a narrative for my brethren to motivate them to be honest--as an attempt to apply the skills I even have interior the Lord's provider. I even have completed some paintings--yet at the instant have been given back into portray--have not finished yet to verify if i will additionally use that interior the Lord's provider. i'm no longer the main suitable at the two--yet we could desire to do with our could what our hand reveals to do. whilst God asks, "what's that for the duration of your hand?" As I write this, i'm thinking of my superb skills--my sister says i'm pushy. My husband says i'm the "getter completed female". If I see something that desires to be completed--I make effective it gets completed, and that i could enlist some help alongside the way.

Answer 5

Take it in stride. Consider this as you begin reading the Dialogues:

If you think like the philosophers from 2000 years ago, your life will begin to reflect their lives.

Most philosophers have been depressed or have had some other mental health crisis. When you begin to think like a philosopher, you open yourself to being depressed alot.