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Phaedrus (Hackett Classics) UK ed. Edition

by Plato (Author), Alexander Nehamas (Translator), Paul Woodruff (Translator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 133 ratings
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"A superb translation that captures the rhetorical brilliance of the Greek. . . . The translation is faithful in the very best sense: it reflects both the meaning and the beauty of the Greek text. . . . The footnotes are always helpful, never obtrusive. A one-page outline is useful since there are no editorial additions to mark major divisions in the dialogue. An appendix containing fragments of early Greek love poetry helps the reader appreciate the rich, and perhaps elusive, meaning of eros. . . . The entire Introduction is crisply written, and the authors' erudition shines throughout, without a trace of pedantry. . . . this is an excellent book that deservedly should find wide circulation for many years to come". --Tim Mahoney, University of Texas at Arlington
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Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    0872202216
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0872202214
  3. Edition
    UK ed.
  4. Publisher
    Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
  5. Publication date
    March 15, 1995
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.75 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  8. Print length
    144 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

This translation captures the character of the Greek as spoken better than any I know. The notes are useful and not intrusive. But it is the introduction that masterfully introduces the reader to some of the interesting reflections on the Phaedrus. --Edward M. Galligan, UNC at Chapel Hill

About the Author

Paul Woodruff is Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.; UK ed. edition (March 15, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0872202216
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0872202214
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.5 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 133 ratings

About the author

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Plato

Plato

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Plato (428-348 BCE) was a philosopher and mathematician in ancient Greece. A student of Socrates and a teacher of Aristotle, his Academy was one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Western world. He is widely regarded as the father of modern philosophy.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
133 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Michelle Wruck
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest Platonic Dialogues
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2024
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The introduction is thoughtful and educational. The dialogue is just wonderful. The book was undamaged in shipping and came quickly.
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Larry J. Waggle
5.0 out of 5 stars Great translation
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2023
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Fantastic translation. The introduction essay is a tour de force of the relevant scholarship around this dialogue. The text reads smoothy and is faithful to the Greek without sounding stilted
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Reviewer from San Ramon
5.0 out of 5 stars Love or Rhetoric?
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2011
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In this review I will compare 3 editions of Plato's Phaedrus:
1. Alexander Nehamas & Paul Woodruff (Hackett Pub Co, 1995).
2. Stephen Scully (Focus Pub/R.Pullins Co , 2003).
3. James Nichols (Cornell University Press, 1998).
I have given all 3 editions 5 stars for their own unique perspectives.
Throughout the centuries, scholars have debated on what exactly is the central theme of Phaedrus: is it a dialogue about rhetoric? Or is it about Love? Or perhaps it is about both? If so, how are we supposed to understand the connection between Rhetoric and Love? The book itself is divided into 2 parts: the first part is about Love and the second is about Rhetoric, and because of this division in the book that it generated a lively discussion about Rhetoric versus Love.
The 3 editions I review here provided 3 unique perspectives.
Nichols argues strongly that Phaedrus is definitely about Rhetoric, in fact he links Phaedrus to Gorgias. His argument is that in Gorgias, Plato discusses Rhetoric in relations to justice, and in Phaedrus, he discusses Rhetoric in relations to Love. Love, therefore is a subordinate subject to Rhetoric.
Similarly, Nehamas also argues that Phaedrus is about Rhetoric albeit not as strongly as Nichols. It is a "sustained discussion of Rhetoric" in which Plato used Eros as examples. (xxxviii)
Scully's interpretation is slightly different; this is where I find my own position to be closer to. His argument is that Love and Rhetoric are equal parts of Plato's Phaedrus. This unity is possible because "both [love and rhetoric] requires the philosopher at the helm. As a lover, the philosopher guides the soul of the beloved, as a rhetorician, he guides the soul of his partner in conversation." (88)
My own position is that: it is about both with a slight emphasis on Love, and not on rhetoric. If Love is defined as that madness and uncontrollable urge to search for the ultimate truth and beauty, then, rhetoric is the tool to achieve that. Rhetoric, for Socrates, is understood as a tool that will guide the soul in search for the beautiful. What he is saying here is: it's all about Love, but you are not getting any Love, if it is without Rhetoric.
Overall, I like Scully's edition the best for its completeness: in addition to the translation, it has a wealth of valuable information in the Appendix, including copies of poems by Sappho, Anacreon, Ibycus, etc; plus interpretive text and sample photos of "Phallus Bird". Highly recommended.
26 people found this helpful
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OAKSHAMAN
5.0 out of 5 stars Without deepest contemplation of the Soul, all is in error.
Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2005
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_I have heard some call this work a confused jumble of unrelated concepts. These people just didn't get it. There is one unified theme to the Phaedrus: without a deep connection to the soul and to the higher Reality only accessible to the soul, then all human endeavors are in error.

_The first part of the dialogue deals with three speeches on the topic of love. This is used only as an example and is not the primary theme (though it is an extremely thorough and compelling examination of the subject.) The first speech (by Lysias) is clearly in error- it is badly composed, badly reasoned, and supports what is clearly the wrong conclusion. The second speech (by Socrates), while an impeccable model of correct rhetoric, and reaching the correct conclusion is also essentially flawed- for it makes no appeal to the deepest fundamental causes of things. Simply put, it lacks soul. The third argument (attributed to Stesichorus) however, delves deeply into the soul. In fact, the core of the argument is centered around the proof of the existence and nature of the soul. That is the consistency here- unless you are Philosopher enough to have looked deeply within your own soul, to have made contact (recollection) with ultimate Reality (Justice, Wisdom, Beauty, Temperance, etc.) then your arguments are just empty words- even if you are accidentally on the correct side.

_The second part of the dialogue concentrates on showing how true rhetoric is more than "empty rhetoric" (i.e. just clever arguments and tricks used to sway the masses.) True rhetoric is shown to literally be the art of influencing the soul through words. It also reads as the perfect description, and damnation, of modern politics and the legal system. No wonder Socrates was condemned to later take poison- he actually BELIEVED in Justice, Truth, and the Good. As a Philosopher he could not compromise on such things for he knew the profound damage and that it would do to his soul and to his "wings."
21 people found this helpful
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Tori Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Hated the contents but it came on time
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2024
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This book is very weird and disturbing in a lot of ways, but it came on time and intact for my rhetoric class. That’s all I care about.
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Mohammad Zaman
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Item
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2009
The Book was awesome and its still almost new....the shipping was really fast i got in before the scheduled time.!!!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2022
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What a beautiful & complete prose exploring head v. heart. Not a terribly long read, but it packs a punch.
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Marc D.
5.0 out of 5 stars Got this for a class, kept it at semester-end because I like it so much
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2014
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This is by far my favorite translation of Phaedrus. The other versions I've read have been to antiquated to give me a good sense of what Plato was writing, but this one was great. On top of that, the introduction made some great arguments about Phaedrus that helped me see its important place in the contemporary rhetorical conversation. This is a great buy!
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Connor
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing from both Plato and translator
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 13, 2019
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The Phaedrus is a fantastic dialogue with some intriguing and well thought out ideas. The translation makes the work very readable whilst not detracting from accuracy from the Greek.
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Matthew Joel
4.0 out of 5 stars These two are good at translating but terrible at commentary
Reviewed in Canada on September 26, 2016
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These two are good at translating but terrible at commentary. If trusted to the introduction and footnotes make understanding this dialogue an impossibility.
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