Philosophy and the Good

A comprehensive new interpretation of Plato's Philebus.

This book offers a comprehensive new interpretation of Plato's dialogue on the best life, the Philebus. Through close attention to the details of the text and consideration of Plato's manner of writing, the book clarifies how the dialogue's many difficult sections form a beautiful whole, thereby bringing out the unity of Plato's thought. It shows how Plato's metaphysics and epistemology support and inform his understanding of the character of the philosophic life and his argument that philosophy is the best way of life. Finally, this book seeks to present the compelling character of Plato's thought—that is, to show that his understanding of the philosophic life deserves to be taken as seriously today as it has ever been.