--- product_id: 2558065 title: "Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle (Agora Editions)" price: "R672" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 4 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2558065-philosophy-of-plato-and-aristotle-agora-editions store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Classic philosophical texts Deep intellectual exploration 1969 Cornell edition reissue Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle (Agora Editions) **Price:** R672 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🧠 Unlock the secrets of ancient minds—because true knowledge never goes out of style. ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle (Agora Editions) - **How much does it cost?** R672 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2558065-philosophy-of-plato-and-aristotle-agora-editions) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Philosophical Depth:** Explore nuanced interpretations of Plato and Aristotle’s core ideas on intellect, soul, and society. - • **Collector’s Quality:** Used book in good condition—own a piece of intellectual history that sparks meaningful conversations. - • **Bridging Cultures & Eras:** Discover Alfarabi’s unique role in transmitting Greek philosophy to the Islamic and Western worlds. - • **Timeless Wisdom Reissued:** Access the 1969 Cornell edition with fresh insights and new foreword. - • **Curated for Thought Leaders:** Perfect for professionals craving profound knowledge that shapes political and practical philosophy. ## Overview This reissued edition of Alfarabi's Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, originally published by Cornell in 1969, offers a profound exploration of classical Greek philosophy through the lens of a pioneering Muslim philosopher. Featuring Muhsin Mahdi’s original introduction and a new foreword, the book delves into the intellectual legacy of Plato and Aristotle, emphasizing the development of the intellect as the highest human pursuit. Ideal for readers seeking deep philosophical insights and historical context, this used copy in good condition is a valuable addition to any serious thinker’s library. ## Description "Alfarabi is now considered to be the founder of Muslim philosophy, and proves to be not simply the bridge for carrying over the thought of Aristotle and Plato into Western thought but a man of great originality.... Muhsin Mahdi makes clear that Alfarabi is not a popularizer but a man of great subtlety of thought and one who discerns the significance of Plato unmixed with Neo-Platonic philosophy."― Choice This long-awaited reissue of the 1969 Cornell edition of Alfarabi's Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle contains Muhsin Mahdi's substantial original introduction and a new foreword by Charles E. Butterworth and Thomas L. Pangle. The three parts of the book, "Attainment of Happiness," "Philosophy of Plato," and "Philosophy of Aristotle," provide a philosophical foundation for Alfarabi's political works. Review: Great investment! Highly suggested! - So far since the beginning of the book which starts as The Human Things... it has been great to read. If you are a consistent reader it will be a wonderful book to consider reading. Review: There are secrets that philosophers hide from the masses - The ancient Greeks were the first people who wrote about philosophy and the greatest of these Greeks were Plato (428/427-348/347 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322). They wrote in Greek, and since many later people did not know Greek, if it were not for Islamic writers who knew Greek and who translated their writings into Arabic, Jews and Christians would have had no knowledge of these great men or of philosophy. One of first of these Islamic writers was Alfarabi (870-950). Alfarabi tells us that Plato could not reveal the truth to everyone because they would not understand it and would feel threatened by ideas that conflict with what they felt was true: The wise Plato did not feel free to reveal and uncover every kind of knowledge for all people. Therefore he followed the practice of using symbols, riddles, obscurity, and difficulty, so that knowledge would not fall into the hands of those who do not deserve it and be deformed, or into the hands of someone who does not know its worth or who uses it improperly. In this he was right. Thus, Alfarabi, Muhsin Mahdi writes, also hid the truth from the general population by brazenly using "self-contradiction - between works, between passages, and even, at least once, within the same sentence. The uses of this device are manifold." Alfarabi states that one of these truths, in fact the basic truth that Plato could not teach the general population, is that spending one's life developing one's mind is the only true fulfillment of human existence. The thinking must focus on the practical and political, the sciences that benefit the individual and society. This knowledge can only be obtained by associating and cooperating with others and living next to them. Plato, Alfarabi writes, was not speaking of religious knowledge, another idea that the general population could not accept. Religious thinking "is not sufficient." "Religion is "an imitation of philosophy." It supplies an imaginative unexamined account of nature that the general population needs to know, but not the truth. But the perfect person, according to Plato, is one who learns the real truth and lives a life that reflects it. This was the problem faced by Plato's teacher: For when he [Socrates] knew that he could not survive except by conforming to false opinions and leading a base way of life, he preferred death to life. Aristotle, Plato's student, Alfarabi wrote, had the same understanding as Plato "and more." Aristotle investigated and described the causes of everything that he could see and think about, practical and theoretical science. He examined the purpose of everything by looking at all of its parts. He divided what he found into classes. He gave an account of all he saw. He spoke of logic, drama, poetry, and other subjects and described how they should work. Alfarabi portrays Aristotle as taking some of Plato's ideas, as well as others that Plato did not discuss, and examining them as a scientist would probe them today. Thus, for example, while Plato speaks about the soul, Aristotle defines it as the various parts of the body, such as the nutritive and respiratory systems that keep the body alive, as well as the intellect. This intellect is the true and only aspect of humans that differentiates them from animals and inanimate objects. Thus people who do not develop their intellect have failed to become truly human. All the parts of the soul die with the body, except for the intellect, but Aristotle seems to say that this surviving intellect has no recollection of its prior life. Aristotle's view of the soul is another philosophical teaching that would disturb the general population. ## Features - Used Book in Good Condition ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #527,472 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #634 in Individual Philosophers (Books) #910 in Ancient Greek & Roman Philosophy #1,331 in Religious Philosophy (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.9 out of 5 stars 24 Reviews | ## Images ![Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle (Agora Editions) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61z7M+2UAQL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great investment! Highly suggested! *by K***Ä on March 27, 2026* So far since the beginning of the book which starts as The Human Things... it has been great to read. If you are a consistent reader it will be a wonderful book to consider reading. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ There are secrets that philosophers hide from the masses *by I***N on June 30, 2010* The ancient Greeks were the first people who wrote about philosophy and the greatest of these Greeks were Plato (428/427-348/347 BCE) and Aristotle (384-322). They wrote in Greek, and since many later people did not know Greek, if it were not for Islamic writers who knew Greek and who translated their writings into Arabic, Jews and Christians would have had no knowledge of these great men or of philosophy. One of first of these Islamic writers was Alfarabi (870-950). Alfarabi tells us that Plato could not reveal the truth to everyone because they would not understand it and would feel threatened by ideas that conflict with what they felt was true: The wise Plato did not feel free to reveal and uncover every kind of knowledge for all people. Therefore he followed the practice of using symbols, riddles, obscurity, and difficulty, so that knowledge would not fall into the hands of those who do not deserve it and be deformed, or into the hands of someone who does not know its worth or who uses it improperly. In this he was right. Thus, Alfarabi, Muhsin Mahdi writes, also hid the truth from the general population by brazenly using "self-contradiction - between works, between passages, and even, at least once, within the same sentence. The uses of this device are manifold." Alfarabi states that one of these truths, in fact the basic truth that Plato could not teach the general population, is that spending one's life developing one's mind is the only true fulfillment of human existence. The thinking must focus on the practical and political, the sciences that benefit the individual and society. This knowledge can only be obtained by associating and cooperating with others and living next to them. Plato, Alfarabi writes, was not speaking of religious knowledge, another idea that the general population could not accept. Religious thinking "is not sufficient." "Religion is "an imitation of philosophy." It supplies an imaginative unexamined account of nature that the general population needs to know, but not the truth. But the perfect person, according to Plato, is one who learns the real truth and lives a life that reflects it. This was the problem faced by Plato's teacher: For when he [Socrates] knew that he could not survive except by conforming to false opinions and leading a base way of life, he preferred death to life. Aristotle, Plato's student, Alfarabi wrote, had the same understanding as Plato "and more." Aristotle investigated and described the causes of everything that he could see and think about, practical and theoretical science. He examined the purpose of everything by looking at all of its parts. He divided what he found into classes. He gave an account of all he saw. He spoke of logic, drama, poetry, and other subjects and described how they should work. Alfarabi portrays Aristotle as taking some of Plato's ideas, as well as others that Plato did not discuss, and examining them as a scientist would probe them today. Thus, for example, while Plato speaks about the soul, Aristotle defines it as the various parts of the body, such as the nutritive and respiratory systems that keep the body alive, as well as the intellect. This intellect is the true and only aspect of humans that differentiates them from animals and inanimate objects. Thus people who do not develop their intellect have failed to become truly human. All the parts of the soul die with the body, except for the intellect, but Aristotle seems to say that this surviving intellect has no recollection of its prior life. Aristotle's view of the soul is another philosophical teaching that would disturb the general population. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book *by A***A on March 1, 2021* Great book --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2558065-philosophy-of-plato-and-aristotle-agora-editions](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/2558065-philosophy-of-plato-and-aristotle-agora-editions) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-07-14*