Plato is the best known and most widely studied of all the ancient Greek philosophers. Malcolm Schofield, a leading scholar of ancient philosophy, offers a lucid and accessible guide to Plato's political thought, enormously influential and much discussed in the modern world as well as the ancient. Schofield discusses Plato's ideas on education, democracy and its shortcomings, the role of knowledge in government, utopia and the idea of community, money and its grip on the psyche, and ideological uses of religion.

Reviews
This is a thoughful and illuminating discussion of a complex and intensely debated topic... this book seems to me highly successful, both in offering a very accessible treatment for readers of different backgrounds and in probing new and promising lines of enquiry. * Christopher Gill. Journal of Hellenic Studies *
...intriguing... * TLS *
This [is an] impressive and timely study * Edward Moore, St. Elias School of Orthodox Theology *
Malcolm Schofield has written an outstanding overview and critical assessment of Plato's political philosophy. As befits a volume meant to be accessible to non-specialists, he ranges widely over many topics and emphasizes the ways in which Plato is still able to engage a contemporary reader committed to open-minded reflection on the norms that should govern the modern nation-state. At the same time, Schofield brings to this work a deep understanding of Plato's embeddedness in the culture of fifth and fourth century Athens * Richard Kraut, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
Schofield is also thoroughly immersed in the enormous literature that has gathered around Plato's political writings, and he is unfailingly fair-minded in his treatment ... of other authors. There is no better way to enter this aspect of Plato's thought than to read this fine contribution to the series, Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought, edited by Mark Philp... It will endure as an indispensable guide not only to its principal subject - the Republic - but to all of Plato's political writings, and to their enduring interest today. * Richard Kraut, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
a splendid and lively work...Any reader interested in Plato's political thought would benefit greatly from reading and thinking about this excellent book. * The Journal of the Society for Greek Political Thought *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199249619
Author Malcolm Schofield
Format Hardback
Page Count 394
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 733g
Dimensions(mm) 242mm * 164mm * 26mm