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Hippias Major: What Is Beauty? - Plato's Dialogue on Aesthetics and the Search for Universal Truth
Paperback
Series: Library of Alexandria, Book 372
ISBN13: 9781806292929
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
Published: Jul 1 2025
Pages: 90
Weight: 0.20
Height: 0.23 Width: 5.00 Depth: 8.00
Language: English
In Hippias Major, Plato presents a searching dialogue between Socrates and the sophist Hippias as they tackle one of philosophy's most enduring questions: what is beauty? Through sharp questioning and humorous rebuttals, Socrates dismantles superficial answers and pushes toward a deeper, universal definition of beauty-one that transcends physical appearance and cultural norms.
This modern translation breathes new life into a deceptively simple yet intellectually rich text. By preserving the clarity and spirit of the original, it offers today's readers a fresh opportunity to grapple with the philosophical roots of aesthetics, truth, and knowledge.
What You'll Discover in This Modern Translation:
- The First Known Philosophical Dialogue on Beauty - Explore how Plato frames aesthetics not just as art appreciation, but as a key to understanding universal truth.
- Socrates vs. the Sophists - Watch Socrates expose the contradictions in Hippias's confident definitions of beauty.
- A Study in Dialectical Method - Learn how Plato's approach to questioning can be applied to modern critical thinking and personal inquiry.
- A Modern, Reader-Friendly Translation - Carefully adapted for clarity and insight while remaining faithful to Plato's philosophical essence.
- Reflections on the Nature of Truth and Perception - Discover why the definition of beauty matters far beyond appearances-in how we live, judge, and aspire.
Whether you're interested in aesthetics, ancient philosophy, or the timeless quest for truth, Hippias Major is a foundational text that continues to spark wonder and debate. Step into the dialogue and explore the meaning behind what we call beautiful.
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