Abstract

This is the third volume in the Clarendon Plato Series, which already includes good translations and commentaries on the Theaetetus and the Philebus. Like its companions, this book concentrates mainly on the philosophical interpretation of the dialogue and is "intended primarily for those who do not read Greek". A separate section, for example, is devoted to textual issues, and the commentary, which takes up the largest part of the volume, does not presuppose knowledge of Greek. In principle, then, one can follow and appreciate Professor Gallop’s careful notes without being able to read Plato’s original text. But this is not simply an elementary introduction to the Phaedo and, in practice, knowledge of Greek would be quite useful in attending to the argument and in keeping clearly in mind the significance of alternative translations as well as the different interpretations which these can involve. The work’s task is a difficult one: it is intended to be a sophisticated and detailed presentation of Plato’s views, but also capable of being read independently of Plato’s text. Given these constraints, Gallop has written an excellent book. His readers will have to work hard, but, if they do, they will find their efforts rewarded. The commentary includes clear presentations of the background necessary for following and appreciating the detailed discussions of particular and controversial problems which Gallop painstakingly pursues. He refers broadly to the secondary literature on Plato and gives exhaustive cross-references to the text of the Phaedo. Passages central to recent philosophical debates are discussed extensively, but equally interesting sections are devoted to less popular, though equally important, parts of the dialogue; for instance, Gallop’s comments on Socrates’ apology for the life of the philosopher constitute a serious and rather elegant essay in their own right. The translation is faithful and often, though not always, idiomatic. Gallop offers a number of original and controversial interpretations, and "though in view of the size of the subject under discussion... [one] is bound to retain some doubt in [one’s] mind about what’s been said", this book cannot fail to be extremely valuable to any serious reader of Plato.—A.N.