Plato: A Civic Life

Now in paperback, a new reading of Plato's philosophy that reveals it as deeply shaped by his experiences in Athens.

Plato is a key figure from the beginnings of Western philosophy, yet the impact of his lived experience on his thought has rarely been explored. Born during a war that would lead to Athens' decline, Plato lived in turbulent times. Carol Atack explores how Plato's life in Athens influenced his thought, how he developed the Socratic dialogue into a powerful philosophical tool, and how he used the institutions of Athenian society to create a compelling imaginative world. Accessibly written, this book shows how Plato made Athens the place where diverse ideas were integrated into a new way of approaching the big questions about our lives, then and now.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Published: 06/05/2026
ISBN: 9781836392057
Pages: 240
Size: 8.50h x 5.43w x 1.10d