Φαῖδρος

the long version

"Set in the idyllic countryside outside Athens, the Phaedrus is a dialogue between the philosopher Socrates and his young friend Phaedrus, inspired by their reading of a clumsy speech by the writer Lysias about love. After first considering the virtues of romantic love, their conversation develops into a wide-ranging discussion on such subjects as the pursuit of beauty, the nature of humanity, the immortality of the soul and the attainment of truth, and ends with an in-depth consideration of the principles of rhetoric. Probably a work of Plato's maturity, the Phaedrus represents a high point in his achievement as a writer. It remains a fascinating exploration of love, mortality, destiny and what it means to be human." "New to Penguin, Christopher Rowe's translation of Phaedrus conveys the lucidity and humour of Plato's great work, while his introduction considers the philosophy of the work and places it in context. This edition also includes detailed notes, an appendix and a comprehensive further reading list."--Jacket.