Plato The Greater Hippias 1759 English Translation by Floyer Sydenhami n Enlightenment Britain, 1759

Plato

First Edition

Plato. The Greater Hippias, 1759 English translation presenting a key Socratic dialogue on the nature of beauty within the context of Enlightenment era engagement with classical philosophy. The work stages an exchange between Socrates and Hippias in which attempts to define beauty are systematically examined and rejected, illustrating the Socratic method of testing and dismantling accepted ideas. This edition contributes to the study of eighteenth century philosophical translation, the transmission of Greek thought into English intellectual culture, and early modern interpretations of aesthetics and moral philosophy.

Plato. The Greater Hippias: A Dialogue of Plato Concerning the Beautifull. London: H. Woodfall, 1759. First edition in English, translated by Floyer Sydenham. Quarto volume presenting the dialogue in which Socrates and Hippias attempt to establish a definition of beauty but arrive instead at the limits of such inquiry. The text employs an anatreptic structure, advancing philosophical critique through the refutation of inadequate definitions rather than through a final resolution. Sydenham’s translation reflects eighteenth century efforts to render Platonic philosophy accessible to English readers, and his work was later praised for its “just criticism and extensive learning, an elegant taste, and a genius naturally philosophic.”

Published during a period of renewed classical scholarship in Britain, this edition aligns with broader Enlightenment interest in Greek philosophy as a foundation for discussions of ethics, aesthetics, and knowledge. The dialogue’s exploration of beauty as a concept “good in and of itself” situates it within early philosophical treatments of intrinsic value, while its conversational form influenced later literary and philosophical writing. Light rippling to leaves with minor foxing; overall very good. A well preserved example of eighteenth century Platonic translation and philosophical inquiry.

Item #17035

Price: $780.00