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Agora Publications, Inc.

The historical Socrates sought to bring philosophy down from the heavens to thrive in the streets of the agora — the market-place. Agora Publications offers dramatic performances of the dialogues of Plato and David Hume to help recapture this valuable Socratic tradition. We begin by revising the texts to make them more accessible to contemporary readers and listeners while leaving them unabridged and striving to be faithful to their original meaning. In this way we create the marketplace of ideas and continue the rich philosophical tradition in which careful and precise thinking blend with literary and poetic creation.

Our unique contribution lies in enlisting professional actors and directors to perform these works as part of what we call the “Theater of the Mind.” Characters such as Socrates, Gorgias, Alcibiades, Diotima, Cleanthes, Demea, and Philo come alive and join in the perennial conversation about the most important questions. What should we teach young people about religion? What is the nature and role of love? How can the best human community be created? What are justice, goodness, truth, and beauty? Is the human soul immortal, or does it die along with the body?

In our series “The World of the Mind,” we offer oral performances of other masterpieces, including ethical works by Immanuel Kant, John Stuart Mill’s reflections on liberty, and the Dao De Jing by Lao Zi.

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1.
by Aristotle
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Aristotle claimed “poetry is more philosophical and more significant than history.” In this postmodern era it is worthwhile to consider Aristotle’s way of connecting beauty, truth, and goodness.

2.
by Plato
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The dramatic nature of Plato's dialogues is delightfully evident in the Symposium. The marriage between character and thought bursts forth as the guests gather at Agathon's house and talk about love.

3.
by Plato
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Phaedrus treats the nature of love, mythical visions of human nature and destiny, and the essence of beauty. It ends with a penetrating discussion of speaking, writing, and the love of wisdom.

4.
by Plato
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Socrates questions Ion, an actor, about his ability to interpret the poetry of Homer. In the Meno, the topic is whether goodness can be taught. Both dialogues provide more questions than answers.

5.
by Plato
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Gorgias of Leontini, who teaches rhetoric, is in Athens, to instruct potential leaders in politics and business. A group has gathered at Callicles' house where Socrates questions him in his usual way.

6.
by Lao Zi
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Socrates' account of his own quest in Plato's Apology resembles that of Lao Zi. Ancient philosophy in China and in Greece, places self-knowledge as the center of human existence as East meets West.

1 - 6 of 6 Titles
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