Philosophy Audiobooks

Statesman (Greek: ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΟΣ Latin: POLITICUS) discusses God's role in maintaining the Universe and describes the statesman as a good shepherd who promotes intermarriage between the orderly (rich) and courageous (poor). Painting: Eighty and Eighteen by John William Godward. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Audiobook read by Geoffrey Edwards.

Parmenides (ΠΑΡΜΕΝΙΔΗΣ) recounts a meeting between Socrates, Zeno and Parmenides. Topics discussed include universals, plurality and the One. Photograph: Cotton-Mill Worker, North Carolina by Lewis W. Hine. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Audiobook read by Geoffrey Edwards.

Olympiodorus the Younger (ΟΛΥΜΠΙΟΔΩΡΟΣ Ο ΝΕΩΤΕΡΟΣ) was a Neoplatonist philosopher who lived in the early years of the Byzantine Empire. Justinian's Decree of 529 AD closed Plato's Academy in Athens and other Pagan schools but Olympiodorus avoided persecution in part because the Alexandrian School was less involved in politics. At his death the School passed into the hands of Christian Aristotelian...

The Life of Plato was written   by Hesychius of Miletus who lived in Constantinople and flourished during the reign of Saint Justinian the Great. Painting: Femme nue au chien by Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet. Translated by George Burges. Audiobook read by Geoffrey Edwards.

Apuleius on the Doctrines of Plato  which is also known as On Plato and his Doctrine (Latin: De Dogmate Platonis ) is divided into three parts. Book I: On Natural Philosophy. Book II: On Moral Philosophy. Book III: On the Philosophy of Reasoning. Painting: Cupid and Psyche by François Pascal Simon. Translated by George Burges. Audiobook read by Geoffrey Edwards.

The Introduction of Alcinous to the Doctrines of Plato which is also known as The Handbook of Platonism (ΕΠΙΤΟΜΗ ΤΩΝ ΠΛΑΤΩΝΟΣ ΔΟΓΜΑΤΩΝ) is attributed to the Middle Platonist philosopher Alcinous (ΑΛΚΙΝΟΥΣ) who lived around the 2nd century AD. Painting: The Birth of Bacchus by Giulio Romano (Giulio Pippi) and Workshop. Scanned by The J. Paul Getty Museum. Translated by George Burges. Audiobook read...

The Introduction of Albinus to the Dialogues of Plato was written in the 2nd Century CE by Albinus (ΑΛΒΙΝΟΣ) the teacher of Galen (ΚΛΑΥΔΙΟΣ ΓΑΛΗΝΟΣ). Painting: The Triumph of Death by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Translated by George Burges. Audiobook read by Geoffrey Edwards.

Cratylus (ΚΡΑΤΥΛΟΣ) discusses whether things have names by mere convention or have true names which can only be correctly applied to the object named and may have originated from God. Painting: Oedipus and the Sphinx by Gustave Moreau. Translated by Benjamin Jowett. Audiobook read by Geoffrey Edwards.

Axiochus (ΑΞΙΟΧΟΣ) may not have been written by Plato. Socrates presents various arguments to the gravely ill Axiochus for why he should not fear death. The first is that the dead experience nothing because they do not exist and so by definition can not suffer from death. When this argument fails Socrates discusses the immortality of the soul, predestination, the final judgement, the joys of the a...

The Treatise of Timaeus the Locrian on the Soul of the World and Nature (Ancient Greek: ΠΕΡΙ ΦΥΣΙΟΣ ΚΟΣΜΩ ΚΑΙ ΨΥΧΑΣ; Latin: Timaeus Locrus) may not have been written by Plato. The Pythagorean philosopher Timaeus describes the creation of the world by God and the Demiurge using the eternal forms as guides and matter composed of Platonic solids. Painting: The Magic Circle by John William Waterhouse.

Definitions (Greek: ΟΡΟΙ; Latin: DEFINITIONES) may not have been written by Plato. The text provides what some consider to be occasionally flawed definitions for 186 philosophical terms including wisdom, justice, fortitude, temperance, knowledge, soul and God. Watercolour Painting: T he Great Dragon and the Woman Clothed in the Sun by William Blake.

Demodocus (ΔΗΜΟΔΟΚΟΣ) my not have been written by Plato. The author asks the following questions: If citizens are competent to vote correctly then why do they need advisors? If either a complainant or defendant is lying then why is it beneficial to hear the party who is lying instead of just hearing the truthful person? If someone refuses to lend money when asked then who is at fault? Is it a mist...

Sisyphus (ΣΙΣΥΦΟΣ) is also known as Upon Taking Counsel and may not have been written by Plato. In this short dialogue Socrates asks Sisyphus: Can a person who knows nothing about a subject consult about that subject? Painting: Susannah and the Elders by Guido Reni.

On Justice (Greek: ΠΕΡΙ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΥ; Latin: De Justo) may not have been written by Plato. In this five page dialogue Socrates asks his friend if the unjust choose to be wicked or are bad though ignorance. Triptych: The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, c. 1510.

On Virtue ( ΠΕΡΙ ΑΡΕΤΗΣ) may not have been written by Plato. Socrates asks his friend the following questions: If virtue can be taught why were eminent Greeks of the past unable to teach their own children to be good? If virtue is a natural characteristic why aren't there specialists who can identify which children will grow up to become good? Socrates and his friend conclude that virtue must be a...

Book II 2:21:36, III 3:32:37, IV 5:07:12, V 6:36:43 Tusculan Disputations (Latin: TUSCULANARUM DISPUTATIONUM) is divided into five books which discuss death, pain, grief, perturbations and virtue. At issue is whether wise people can always be happy regardless of the apparent evil that fortune throws in their way. Andrew Peabody says the A. and M. in the text may stand for Auditor, Adolescens, Atti...

Epinomis (ΕΠΙΝΟΜΙΣ) may not have been written by Plato. The text praises mathematics and astronomy as the purest forms of religious expression by arguing that God implanted mathematical tendencies in humans and that the stars are subject to divine influence. Photograph:  Versailles, Maison Close, Petit Place, Mars 1921 (Brothel, Versailles, Petit Place, March 1921) by Eugène Atget.

The thirteen Epistles (Greek: ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΑΙ; Latin: EPISTOLAE) may or many not have been written by Plato. If genuine these letters provide a glimpse into the personal life of Plato including his financial concerns and political involvement with the tyrant Dionysius II. Coded language and hidden messages appear to have been used in the letters making parts difficult to understand. Translated by George...

Minos (ΜΙΝΩΣ) may not have been written by Plato. Socrates and a friend discuss whether laws are established by convention or discovered. Translated by George Burges. Painting: Portrait of Barbara Kressin by Netherlandish Master, active Germany, 1544.

Clitopho is the Latin title the short dialogue which is also known as Clitophon or Cleitophon (ΚΛΕΙΤΟΦΩΝ). Plato may or may not have been the author. Clitopho complains that Socrates is good at exhorting people to justice but not able to make them just. Translated by George Burges. Painting:  After the Bath by Edgar Degas.

Theages (ΘΕΑΓΗΣ) may not have been written by Plato. The dialogue discusses who the proper teacher is for young Theages to learn the skills of a tyrant. Translated by George Burges. Painting:  David with the Head of Goliath by Guido Cagnacci.

Hipparchus (ΙΠΠΑΡΧΟΣ) may not have been written by Plato. The dialogue discusses whether iniquitous gain is really gain at all. Translated by George Burges. Painting: The Ransom by John Everett Millais.

Rival Lovers (Ancient Greek: ΕΡΑΣΤΑΙ or ΑΝΤΕΡΑΣΤΑΙ Latin: AMATORES) which is also known as The Rivals may not have been written by Plato. Socrates, an athlete and an advocate of liberal education discuss whether philosophers are useful to society and reach some uncertain conclusions. Translated by George Burges. Painting:  Three Lovers by Théodore Géricault.

Hippias Major (ΙΠΠΙΑΣ ΜΕΙΖΩΝ) may not have been written by Plato. The dialogue discusses what true beauty is and includes a maiden, gold and a porridge spoon as possible instances. Translated by George Burges. Painting: The Eternal Feminine (L'Éternel Féminin) c.1877 by Paul Cézanne.

Second Alcibiades (ΑΛΚΙΒΙΑΔΗΣ Β) is also known as On Prayer . It is not certain whether Plato was the author. The text discusses prayer and concludes that it is best not to ask for specific things from God. Translated by George Burges. Illumination: Cutting from an Antiphonal c. 1465 attributed to Bartolomeo Rigossi da Gallarate.