How would you classify Plato’s works by level of difficulty?
I have already read Apologia and Republica with grammar commentary and I would like to continue with other texts, but I don’t know which texts should I read?
Here’s what I wrote you a month ago.
The Crito would be a good choice to start with, then perhaps the Ion, and when you’re ready for something longer and more challenging, the Phaedo or the Symposium. The Apology, as you probably know, is not at all typical of Plato’s work, since it’s not a dialogue. And be warned: much of the rest of his work is extremely difficult.
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Thank you!
And what do you think about Meno, Protagoras, Euthyphro?
What is the best way to read the most complex texts of Plato?
The Meno and the Euthyphro are both good examples of a Platonic dialogue. So is the Protagoras, longer and more complex. You may find them frustrating. I know I do. Try them and see! Read them with Steadman if you must, but only if.
I’ve just completed a personal vocab list for all of Plato (except of the Laws and epistles, as I’ll handle them later). As part of the process I learnt that the new vocab heavy texts for me were Timaeus/Critias and Phaedrus. I also asked Grok to provide me a reading list from easiest to hardest (and I moved the epistles to last place), this is the order it gave me:
| Crito |
|---|
| Euthyphro |
| Apology of Socrates |
| Ion |
| Hippias Minor |
| Alcibiades II |
| Hipparchus |
| Lovers |
| Minos |
| Laches |
| Charmides |
| Lysis |
| Theages |
| Alcibiades I |
| Hippias Major |
| Menexenus |
| Euthydemus |
| Protagoras |
| Meno |
| Gorgias |
| Cleitophon |
| Phaedo |
| Symposium |
| Phaedrus |
| Cratylus |
| Theaetetus |
| Parmenides |
| Sophist |
| Statesman |
| Republic |
| Philebus |
| Timaeus |
| Critias |
| Laws |
| Epinomis |
| Epistles |
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Thanks. This is the answer I wanted to get. I will try to read the easier texts and learn the vocab. Maybe I ever able to read the hardest texts of Plato.