{"product_id":"selected-myths-9780199552559","title":"Selected Myths","description":"\"Once upon a time there were just the gods; mortal beings did not yet exist.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWe are used to thinking of myths containing lines like this simply as stories, and modern myths as made up and fictitious. For the ancient Greeks, however, a myth was unveiled reality, and for Plato, who was a myth-maker as well as a myth-teller, a myth could tell us something important about ourselves and our world. The ultimate purpose of Plato's myths is to help us live a better life, and to teach philosophical truths in a form we can most easily understand. This volume brings together ten of the most celebrated Platonic myths from eight of Plato's dialogues, ranging from the early \u003cem\u003eProtagoras\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eGorgias\u003c\/em\u003e to the later \u003cem\u003eTimaeus\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCritias\u003c\/em\u003e. The collection includes the famous myth of the cave from \u003cem\u003eRepublic\u003c\/em\u003e as well as \"The Judgement of Souls\" and \"The Birth of Love.\" Each myth is a self-contained story, prefaced by a short explanatory note. An introduction to the volume considers Plato's use of myth and imagery. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThese myths are both thought-provoking and profound, and together they provide an ideal introduction to Plato's philosophy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Series: \u003c\/strong\u003e For over 100 years\u003cstrong\u003e Oxford World's Classics \u003c\/strong\u003ehas made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51705334202642,"sku":"9780199552559","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_091622df-b56a-4df1-9cbf-143e69f908d9.jpg?v=1762345766","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/selected-myths-9780199552559","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}