Why Plato Matters Now

Professor Angie Hobbs proves in this persuasive and intelligent book that Plato is more relevant than ever.

Does Plato matter? An ancient philosopher whose work inspired and informed countless thinkers and poets across the centuries, his ideas are no longer taught so widely as they once were. But, as Angie Hobbs argues in this clear-sighted book, that is a mistake.

If we want to understand the world we live in - from AI to politics, cancel culture and beauty - there is no place better to start than with Plato. Exploring the intersection between the ancient and the modern, Professor Hobbs examines women's rights, healthcare, happiness, elitism, death, love and reality using Plato's wisdom. She also shows us how we can use the Socratic method that Plato taught to better understand his own philosophy, and how it relates to our lives today.

All of Plato's major works and ideas are explained with clarity suitable for readers familiar with his work as well as those approaching Plato for the first time. This book shows us why Plato matters, now more than ever.

Chronology
Maps
Preface
Introduction: Plato's Life and the Socratic Inheritance

1. The Dialogue Form
2. Harmony and the Good Life
3. Democracy, Demagoguery and Tyranny
4. The Ideal City and its Decline
5. Heroism, Celebrity and Money
6. Love and Friendship
7. Art, Censorship and Myth

Epilogue
Notes
References
Further Reading
Acknowledgements
Index