Who Speaks for Plato ─ Studies in Platonic Anonymity

Sixteen contributors, mostly from classics and philosophy, are united around the argument that despite the tradition ushered in by Aristotle and Diogenes Laertius, the mouthpieces for Plato's own views were not just Socrates, Timaeus, the Athenian Stranger and the Eleatic Stranger, but others as well. This newer view is asserted on the basis of two, perhaps over-obvious observations: first, Plato never speaks, and second, Plato's works are dramatic dialogues with multiple voices. The result of these observations is an increasing number of readings that unite philosophical and literary-dramatic styles and concerns. This is one of few, recent academic books accompanied by footnotes instead of endnotes. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Gerald A. Press is professor of philosophy at Hunter College, City University of New York, and the editor of Plato's Dialogues: New Studies and Interpretations (Rowman & Littlefield, 1993).