Why Plato Wrote

“In this groundbreaking book Danielle Allen gives us Plato for the 21st century: a boldly pragmatic and fiercely political philosopher, a ‘legislator of the world’ whose vivid writing reframed the moral practices of real communities, a provocative and successful linguistic entrepreneur whose Socratic dialogues sparked a culture war that defined Athenian politics in the Age of Alexander. Compelling reading for anyone who cares passionately about philosophy, politics, or classical Greece.”
Josiah Ober, Stanford University

“Why Plato Wrote is a deep and original work of scholarship, a model of how the history of political philosophy should be studied, and a pleasure to read.”
Richard Kraut, Northwestern University

“Allen finds Plato to have invented himself as a writer in order to use language as a route to social change.  The simple question 'why Plato wrote' unlocks a key to Plato's political thought which no future scholar will be able to do without.”
Melissa Lane, Princeton University