Alcibiades II

In 427 B.C., the Ancient Greek city-state of Athens was flourishing.  Approximately 80 years earlier, the Athenians had formed the first self-representative democracy in history, the Peloponnesian War against Sparta had only just started, and Socrates was only beginning to lay the foundation of what would become Western philosophy.  That year Plato was born to a wealthy family: with an uncle who was close friends with Socrates, Plato was seemingly destined to become a philosopher.  By the end of his life, Plato had indeed become the foremost philosopher of his time, and perhaps the most famous philosopher in Western history.

There is controversy among scholars as to the authorship of the dialogues entitled Alcibiades I and Alcibiades II.  However, most accept that Alcibiades I  belongs in the Plato canon, but that Alcibiades II was written by an imitator.  Alcibiades is described as a very young man, supremely self-confidant and very ambitious. Socrates questions whether the young man has the knowledge or the political wherewithal to persuade the Athenian populace on matters of war and peace, justice and injustice, and other topics. The Second Alcibiades focuses on prayer, its usage and efficacy. It shows that the difficulties with prayer and man’s relationship to a higher power have been with us since ancient times.  

This edition of Alcibiades II is specially formatted with over a dozen pictures of Plato and other famous Ancient Greek philosophers. It also includes a Table of Contents for easier navigation.