ARISTOTLE. Aristotle's Politiques, or Discourses of Government. Translated out of Greeke into French... by Loys LeRoy. Translated out of French into English. 1598. First edition in English. "Aristotle is not only one of the great classical philosophers, the master of every branch of ancient knowledge: his method still underlies all modern thinking... [his Politics came to exercise the influence on modern political thinking which has made him the father of modern democracy." Aristotle's Politics has furnished succeeding generations with many of the great axioms of political truth. His history of Athens and the development of its constitution as an instrument of that mature democracy (included here) greatly influenced the subsequent course of political philosophy in the modern world. PLATO. The Republic of Plato. In Ten Books. Translated From the Greek by H. Spens. 1763. First edition in English of Plato's greatest work. The Republic, printed at the Foulis Press. "In this, the greatest of the dialogues of Plato, Socrates, while seeking an answer to the question What is justice? described an ideal of perfect society, the republic after which the book is named... The Republic is Plato's masterpiece and one of the greatest books in literature." "The 'Republic' is the model for all ideal commonwealths, e.g. More's 'Utopia,' Bacon's 'New Atlantis,' etc... His philosophy has affected all subsequent philosophers." This, the first edition in English, is "a very faithful translation, with an admirable discourse, containing not only a general epitome of the Republic of Plato, but an accurate delineation of the characters, manners, and philosophy of the ancient Greeks." "[Plato's] master Socrates had laid the foundation of scientific method in asking the essential question 'What is...?' rather than improvising theories and this passionate belief in the answerableness of questions and the certainty that good came from knowledge was developed and idealised in the writings of Plato... the dialogues are pervaded by two dominant impulses: a love of truth and a passion for human improvement... it has been truly said that the germs of all ideas can be found in Plato." PREVIOUS NEXT