The Symposium and Phaedo

Two of the most luminous works of ancient philosophy, now in clear, inviting modern English. In The Symposium, Plato invites us to a night of drinking and conversation where seven men, including the philosopher Socrates, take turns praising the god of love. Their speeches rise from playful myth to a soaring vision of love as a ladder that leads the soul toward beauty itself. Then, in the Phaedo, we sit beside Socrates on his last day on earth. As he calmly prepares to drink hemlock, he argues that the soul is immortal and that true philosophy is a preparation for death. These dialogues are not just intellectual landmarks—they are intimate dramas of human passion, courage, and the search for meaning. This edition removes archaic language while preserving the spirit, structure, and depth of Plato’s original. Part of The Modern Wisdom Library.