Greek Thinkers: A History of Ancient Philosophy, Vol. II

The author’s preface explains that this volume, together with the following English volume, treats Socrates, the Socratics, and Plato. Gomperz notes that the discussion of Plato required expanded treatment because extracting a rigid “Platonic system” from the dialogues would be inadequate; instead, the development of Plato’s thought must be understood through the structure, movement, and literary-philosophical character of the dialogues themselves. The book is divided into two main books. Book IV, “Socrates and the Socratics,” includes chapters on changes in faith and morals, Athens and the Athenians, the life and work of Socrates, the teaching of Socrates, Socrates’ death, Xenophon, the Cynics, the Megarians and related movements, and the Cyrenaics. Book V, “Plato,” discusses Plato’s years of study and travel, the genuineness and chronological order of Plato’s works, Plato as an investigator of ethical concepts, and close readings of major dialogues including the Gorgias, Euthyphro, Meno, and Symposium.