Timaeus

Plato (Πλάτων) (c. 428 BCE - c. 347 BCE)
Translated by Benjamin Jowett (1817 - 1893)

"Our intention is, that Timaeus, who is the most of an astronomer amongst us, and has made the nature of the universe his special study, should speak first, beginning with the generation of the world and going down to the creation of man..."

'Timaeus' is usually regarded as one of Plato's later dialogues, and provides an account of the creation of the universe, with physical, metaphysical and ethical dimensions, which had great influence over philosophers for centuries following. It attributes the order and beauty of the universe to a benevolent demiurge - a 'craftsman' or god - fashioning the physical world after the pattern of an ideal, eternal one.

The dramatic setting of the dialogue is the day after a discussion in which Socrates has described his ideal state - as in the 'Republic'. A conversation between Socrates, Critias, Hermocrates and Timaeus, including Critias' account of Solon's journey to Egypt (where he hears the story of Atlantis), soon gives way to the monologue by Timaeus that forms the bulk of the work.

'Timaeus' is translated by Benjamin Jowett and his comprehensive introduction to and analysis of the work precedes the text itself, which he describes as "the growth of an age in which philosophy is not wholly separated from poetry and mythology".
(Summary by Philippa)

Genre(s): Classics (Greek & Latin Antiquity), *Non-fiction, Philosophy

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 - Introduction and Analysis: opening remarks Leni
00:23:30
Play 02 02 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 1, part 1 Leni
00:37:03
Play 03 03 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 1, part 2 Leni
00:24:24
Play 04 04 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 1, part 3 Leni
00:34:00
Play 05 05 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 2 David Huston
00:24:20
Play 06 06 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 3 Philippa
00:37:29
Play 07 07 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 4 Annise
00:15:03
Play 08 08 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 5 Kristine Bekere
00:06:54
Play 09 09 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 6 Kristine Bekere
00:10:33
Play 10 10 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 7 Kristine Bekere
00:05:38
Play 11 11 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 8, part 1 Patti Cunningham
00:13:33
Play 12 12 - Introduction and Analysis: Section 8, part 2 Patti Cunningham
00:44:20
Play 13 13 - Timaeus: part 1 Group 00:27:33
Play 14 14 - Timaeus: part 2 Anna Simon
00:24:40
Play 15 15 - Timaeus: part 3 Anna Simon
00:18:31
Play 16 16 - Timaeus: part 4 Anna Simon
00:26:40
Play 17 17 - Timaeus: part 5 Anna Simon
00:19:08
Play 18 18 - Timaeus: part 6 Anna Simon
00:33:55
Play 19 19 - Timaeus: part 7 Anna Simon
00:24:48
Play 20 20 - Timaeus: part 8 Anna Simon
00:18:57