Plato: Five Dialogues: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo (Hackett Classics)

Plato’s Five Dialogues in the Hackett edition is more than philosophy; it’s a training ground for the mind and soul. I first read it years ago, and recently I bought a copy for my son so we could work through it together the summer before he started high school. We went line by line, exploring Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, and Phaedo, and it was hands-down the best investment we ever made: by the time school began, he could argue, question, and reason with a confidence rooted in centuries of thought. The dialogues are alive with the pursuit of virtue and the examination of life itself. Socrates’ insistence on defining justice, understanding piety, and confronting death resonates deeply with the Catholic worldview, echoing Augustine, the Gospels, and the timeless call to moral courage. Reading Plato alongside Augustine and the classics has shaped the way I approach parenting, education, and even daily decision-making: the cultivation of reason, virtue, and moral clarity is not optional—it is the foundation of life well lived. This edition’s balance of precision and readability makes the text accessible without flattening its power, and sharing it with my son reminded me that the formation of the mind and soul is a multigenerational responsibility. Plato, like Homer, reminds us that civilization rests on ideas, argument, and the courage to pursue truth even when the world resists.

Thought provoking, humbling, and enjoyable when I have a skilled teacher to guide me through. Question from my teacher as far as the torpedo fish comparison from Meno on page 70 (80a)--in what way do I personally need to be numbed in my MIND and in my TONGUE by Socrates?

An excellent introduction to Plato's philosophy. If you're interested in the historical figure of Socrates, these dialogues are most are most concerned with his life. Philosophically, these "Five Dialogues"--Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo--along with Phaedrus, Symposium and the Republic form the bulk of Plato's thought on Forms and the soul. This is a great place to start. The Euthyphro is a typical early dialogue and sets the stage for the charges that face later Socrates in the Apology. Both are very readable. Crito and Phaedo show Socrates in prison accepting his fate with poise and refusing to escape. They are also the most vivid explanation of the immortality of the soul. Meno is a middle dialogue that poses important problems of knowledge and learning resolved by the theory of Forms and Recollection. It's also the most difficult and rewarding of the bunch. This Hackett edition is nice but not great. The dialogues are the Grube translation, edited by Cooper. The introduction by Grube is rather short and just explains the logic behind the grouping of the five dialogues, which is disappointing compared to other Hackett's. However, the translation is good, if a bit literal. There are explanatory footnotes for all of Socrates' idioms and historical references. The margins and book design are nice and readable for such a compact book. The main advantage this little 8x5 paperback has is that it's cheap, easy to carry, and perfect for writing in. I feel the same way about the other excellent Hackett editions of "Symposium", "Phaedrus", and "Laches and Charmides". Now that my interest in Plato has solidified, I will likely invest in the Hardcover collection "Plato: Complete Works". However, you will miss out on the introductions found in the individual Hackett's, in particular Symposium's and Phaedrus which are fantastic.

An excellent introduction to Plato's philosophy. If you're interested in the historical figure of Socrates, these dialogues are most are most concerned with his life. Philosophically, these "Five Dialogues"--Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Phaedo--along with Phaedrus, Symposium and the Republic form the bulk of Plato's thought on Forms and the soul. This is a great place to start. The Euthyphro is a typical early dialogue and sets the stage for the charges that face later Socrates in the Apology. Both are very readable. Crito and Phaedo show Socrates in prison accepting his fate with poise and refusing to escape. They are also the most vivid explanation of the immortality of the soul. Meno is a middle dialogue that poses important problems of knowledge and learning resolved by the theory of Forms and Recollection. It's also the most difficult and rewarding of the bunch. This Hackett edition is nice but not great. The dialogues are the Grube translation, edited by Cooper. The introduction by Grube is rather short and just explains the logic behind the grouping of the five dialogues, which is disappointing compared to other Hackett's. However, the translation is good, if a bit literal. There are explanatory footnotes for all of Socrates' idioms and historical references. The margins and book design are nice and readable for such a compact book. The main advantage this little 8x5 paperback has is that it's cheap, easy to carry, and perfect for writing in. I feel the same way about the other excellent Hackett editions of "Symposium", "Phaedrus", and "Laches and Charmides". Now that my interest in Plato has solidified, I will likely invest in the Hardcover collection "Plato: Complete Works". However, you will miss out on the introductions found in the individual Hackett's, in particular Symposium's and Phaedrus which are fantastic.

Understandable translation. Slim, with reasonable font size.

my goat

I thought this book might be too advanced for my grandson, but I was wrong. He had asked me to get it for him. His intelligence and ability to absorb information really amazes me

I purchased this volume of 5 Dialogues on my journey through the great works of western civilization. This title was not originally on my list, but an impulse buy on my order of Aristotle. I thoroughly enjoyed the Grube/Reeve translation of Republic and was delighted to recognize Grube's prose. This is a great edition if you are on a similar journey, or if you want to sample the writings of Plato without committing to a larger work (if that's you, Apology and Crito are 'must-reads' in terms of their clarity, short length, and drama). Each of the work adds extra flavor to the writing of Plato. Four of the dialogues tell the story of Socrates' trial, awaiting execution, and his final day and death; one dialogue (Meno) occurs before the trial, but transitions beautifully into the final piece (Phaedo). The nature of the dialogues aids tremendously in their readability, especially with repetition of the main points and conclusions.