His Apology of Socrates, and Phaedo by PLATO - 1675: or Dialogue concerning the Immortality of Mans Soul, And Manner of Socrates his Death: Carefully translated from the Greek, and Illustrated by Reflections upon both the Athenian Laws, and ancient Rites and Traditions concerning the Soul, therein mentioned

London: Printed by T.R. & N.T. for James Magnes and Richard Bentley, 1675. CHARLETON, Walter. . His Apology of Socrates, and Phaedo or Dialogue concerning the Immortality of Mans Soul, And Manner of Socrates his Death: Carefully translated from the Greek, and Illustrated by Reflections upon both the Athenian Laws, and ancient Rites and Traditions concerning the Soul, therein mentioned. London: Printed by T.R. & N.T. for James Magnes and Richard Bentley, 1675.

First English edition. Engraved frontispiece by R. White entitled Socrates Triumphans. Octavo (4 1/2 x 7 1/16 inches). [4, blank], [40], 300, [4, blank].

Full modern speckled calf, ruled in blind. Red morocco spine label. Spine lettered in gilt. All edges speckled. Repair to inner bottom corner of title-page, minimal loss of text. Bottom outer blank corner missing from leaf F and I2. A very good, complete copy.

"[Plato], A Greek philosopher and prose writer. Born at Athens of a noble family, Plato aspired to political activity. Dismayed at the inequities of the Athenian tyranny, and later at the execution of his teacher Socrates under the democracy, he turned towards philosophy in search of an alternative to the unstable and unjust public life of the time. He also sought unity behind the changing impressions of the visible universe....All Plato's writing, except for The Apology and the Letters, is in dialogue form...The Apology records Socrates' defense at his trial. These dialogues are philosophically inconclusive, but are considered best to represent the historical Socrates." (Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia810).

"Phaedo, a dialogue by Plato. In it, Phaedo, a disciple of Socrates, describes the last hour of his teacher's life. Socrates and his friends discuss the possibility of the immortality of the soul. The doctrine of ideas and the theory of reminiscence are the most important arguments" (Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia 797).

ESTC R12767

HBS 64473.

$4,500.