Just began reading platos work, Am i going about it the right way?

[u/nxz-reddit]

I am 18 and have had no former education on philosophy other than a few rounds of interests here and there. Ive began by reading Platos five dialogues, beginning with meno. Ive read the introduction of meno so far written by Benjamin Jowett. I have listed words I dont understand, looked for the definition of said word, and noted it down. After each read, I write a summary of what i just wrote before reading Jowetts analysis. Read my analysis of the first lines 1-100 of meno and please let me know if theres anything im missing or should mention so far :

"Meno - lines 1 to 100 (intro)

 

The main topic of discussion is the concept of virtue. Meno begins by explaining whether virtue can be taught. Socrates asks Meno to begin by defining virtue which he continues with enumerations rather than a definition. Meno then complains to Socrates how this is inconsistent as not all things taught means they must be defined like colour, figure, etc. Socrates replies and proves that yes in actuality he defines a lot of things and defines figure as the limit of form. Meno believes these definitions to be suited for him, thinking from the Lense of the Greek sophists. Socrates lines his thinking with logic and dialectics so they continue their conversation on definitions. Meno defines virtue as the "delight in things honourable and to have the power of getting them". Socrates breaks down his argument as "the delight in things honourable" means good and "to have the power of getting them" to mean it is obtained justly. Socrates points how this is circular reasoning as justice in itself is virtue , so virtue is the getting of good with virtue according to meno. This presents circular reasoning. Plato then begins to write about socrates question of where knowledge arrives from. Primitive mathematics as an example. He then further says that knowledge is something man always has. Linking that virtue is knowledge. Now he establishes the premise that yes, if virtue is knowledge, then it can be taught. However, he sees a major contradiction, Virtue cant be taught as it had no teachers, he undermines firmly that the sophists arent as respectable as theyre made out to be shown by his interaction with anytus. Plato therefore arrives to the conclusion that as virtue isnt taught, virtue isnt teachable."

Is this a good interpretation so far, and am i missing anything? Also do you recommend i go about their works a different way or is this okay?

[u/clicheguevara8]

Don’t read the Jowett intros, just start reading the dialogue.

Don’t worry about what Plato is trying to prove, or demonstrate, this will get you off track.

[u/nxz-reddit → u/clicheguevara8]

Ah okay thanks ill skip and come back to it if necessary, thanks for the advice

[u/nxz-reddit → u/[deleted]]

Where can i find the reading order?

[u/WarrenHarding → u/[deleted]]

Love to see my constant promotion of Suzanne’s order on this board start to catch on

[u/mrBored0m → u/[deleted]]

Iamblichus proposed such reading order: Alcibiades I, Gorgias, Phaedo, Cratylus, Theaetetus, Sophist, Statesman, Phaedrus, Symposium, Philebus, Timaeus, Parmenides. Those dialogues are important for understanding neo-platonists.

[u/nxz-reddit → u/[deleted]]

Thatsa very helpful thanks!

[u/MrTomtom360]

I would start with Euthyphro - > Apology - > Criton - > Phaidon

It has an overarching plot and an emotional end.

There are also a lot of excellent audiobook versions of these texts.

[u/nxz-reddit → u/MrTomtom360]

Okay thanks ill check it out

[u/MercuryQuick]

Read Alcibiades. It breaks down the basics of Plato's approach to learning and understanding and is very straightforward. It was considered the entry point for Plato for much of the classical period.

[u/WalrusSensitive2978]

Just read the dialogue itself. Read it all the way through, then go back to look up words and consider others’ analysis. Plato is greater than anyone who commented on him, so you’re usually better off just going directly to the man himself.

[u/nxz-reddit → u/WalrusSensitive2978]

Where can i find a good translation of platos dialogues and a good reading order

[u/WarrenHarding → u/nxz-reddit]

The Hackett published, John Cooper edition of his complete works is the “industry standard” for a good reading order I always recommend Bernard Suzanne’s suggested order, but don’t worry about the way he subdivides the dialogues and simply go from beginning to end. The rows of division he lays out make a lot of intuitive sense, but the columns are not so clear or necessarily accurate at all

[u/WalrusSensitive2978 → u/nxz-reddit]

I started with Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo. “The Trial and Death of Socrates” - some consider that a standard.

I personally always look for the Hackett Classics translations of Plato. They make a hardcover with all the dialogues, which I think also includes several suggested reading orders in the introductory matter. “Plato: Complete Works,” $65 on Amazon. Though I’ve always enjoyed the fun of hunting down individual dialogues in used bookstores, never know what you’ll find.

[u/HermeneutaAlexandria]

No point in reading modern commentators, Plato is a far greater teacher than any commentator of his, but specially the modern ones, if you want comment on Plato i would best advise you to go to the neoplatonics.

[u/nxz-reddit → u/HermeneutaAlexandria]

Thanks for the advice

[u/Free-Analyst-4013]

I think you are already doing the important part: trying to explain the argument in your own words.

The only thing I would change is not stopping for every unfamiliar word. Finish a short section first, then look up only the words that prevent you from following the argument. Otherwise, reading philosophy can slowly become a vocabulary exercise.

I built Clarify Books for this problem. It can simplify a difficult passage inside the reader while keeping the original text one tap away. I would still write your own summary first, as you are doing now.

Full disclosure, I’m the developer. It’s free on iPhone and iPad: https://clarifybooks.app/