This page aims to make learning about Plato as easy as possible by bringing together the best articles, podcasts, and videos from across the internet onto one page. To get started, simply choose one of the resources listed below:
Encyclopedia Articles
This section features articles from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy and the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. The SEP is probably the most comprehensive online philosophy resource. It features in-depth articles on a huge number of philosophical topics, however, it is aimed at an academic audience and may be too detailed and technical for beginners. The IEP is generally more beginner-friendly but is also considered to be less reliable. Wikipedia is also an option, but it is much less reliable than either of these.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Plato
- Plato’s Aesthetics
- Plato on utopia
- Plato’s Middle Period Metaphysics and Epistemology
- Plato’s Ethics: An Overview
- Plato on Rhetoric and Poetry
- Plato’s Ethics and Politics in The Republic
- Method and Metaphysics in Plato’s Sophist and Statesman
- Plato on Friendship and Eros
- Plato’s Shorter Ethical Works
- Plato’s Cratylus
- Plato’s Parmenides
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Plato
- Plato: The Republic
- Plato: Political Philosophy
- Plato: The Laws
- Plato: The Academy
- Plato: Organicism
- Plato: Meno
- Plato: The Timaeus
- Plato: Theaetetus
- Plato: Phaedo
Articles
This section features short articles written by professional philosophers and aimed at a general audience. These articles are ideal for anyone looking for a shorter or more beginner-friendly introduction to Plato than the encyclopedia articles listed above.
1000-Word Philosophy:
Aeon:
The Conversation:
- What Plato can teach you about finding a soulmate
- Love problems? There’s a pill for that, but Plato offers a wiser cure
The Guardian:
- Plato’s dialogues, part 1: Why Plato?
- Plato’s Dialogues, part 2: Who was Plato’s Socrates?
- Plato’s Dialogues, part 3: Philosophy as a way of life
- Plato’s Dialogues, part 4: What do you love?
- Plato’s Dialogues, part 5: Love and the perception of forms
- Plato’s Dialogues, part 6: The philosophical school
- Plato’s Dialogues, part 7: Plato and Christianity
- Plato’s Dialogues, part 8: A man for all seasons
- Why every government should keep an empty seat for a philosopher king
Podcasts
This section features episodes from leading philosophy podcasts. These are also aimed at a general audience and are a good option for beginners who prefer audio content.
The History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps:
- Socrates without Plato: the Accounts of Aristophanes and Xenophon
- Method Man: Plato’s Socrates
- Raphael Woolf on Socrates
- In Dialogue: the Life and Works of Plato
- Know Thyself: Two Unloved Platonic Dialogues
- Virtue Meets its Match: Plato’s Gorgias
- We Don’t Need No Education: Plato’s Meno
- I Know, Because the Caged Bird Sings: Plato’s Theaetetus
- MM McCabe on Knowledge in Plato
- Famous Last Words: Plato’s Phaedo
- Soul and the City: Plato’s Political Philosophy
- Ain’t No Sunshine: The Cave Allegory of Plato’s Republic
- Second Thoughts: Plato’s Parmenides and the Forms
- Fiona Leigh on Plato’s Sophist
- What’s in a Name? Plato’s Cratylus
- A Likely Story: Plato’s Timaeus
- Wings of Desire: Plato’s Erotic Dialogues
- Frisbee Sheffield on Platonic Love
- Last Judgments: Plato, Poetry and Myth
Philosophy Bites
- Jessica Moss on Plato and Aristotle on Weakness of Will
- Melissa Lane on Plato and Sustainability
- M.M. McCabe on the Paradox of Inquiry
- Melissa Lane on Plato and Totalitarianism
- Angie Hobbs on Plato on War
- Angie Hobbs on Plato on Erotic Love
- Simon Blackburn on Plato’s Cave
In Our Time
The Philosopher’s Zone
- A Plato for modern times
- Plato, Buddhism and storytelling
- The Myth of Plato and Plato the Myth-maker
- Philosopher Kings
- The Euthyphro: Dialogue about a Dialogue
Short Videos (<30 mins)
This section features short videos aimed at beginners.
Wireless Philosophy
BBC Radio 4
Misc
- What would Plato make of referendums? | BBC Ideas
- Plato’s Allegory of the Cave – Alex Gendler
- Platonic Ethics – Angie Hobbs
Lectures/Longer Videos (>30 mins)
This section features longer videos and lectures.
- Myles Burnyeat on Plato
- Self Directed Study in Philosophy | Plato’s Dialogues | Sadler’s Advice
- Ancient Philosophy: Plato (Playlist)
Course Syllabi
See this page for course syllabi on Plato.
Books
See this list of the best books on Plato.
Courses
This section features online courses on Plato.
- Lecture Course in Plato – Richard Dien Winfield, University of Georgia
Quotes
See this page for a selection of key quotes by Plato.
The Daily Idea aims to make learning about philosophy as easy as possible by bringing together the best philosophy resources from across the internet. To get started, check out this organized collection of 400+ articles, podcasts, and videos on a wide range of philosophical topics.
A Collection of the Greatest Philosophical Quotations
