Timaeus


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.7 stars; 62 reviews)

"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) (7 hr 50 min)

Chapters

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

Reviews

Well read, thanks


(5 stars)

Still relevant today and well read, thanks!

Excellent Wisdom


(5 stars)

A Profound Insight Into The Esoteric And Metaphysics Of The Ancient Cultures! The Greek Civilization Was Advanced In Various Fields Of Knowledge Like Other Oriental And Egyptian Cultures Of Antiquity!

Some good and some hilarious stuff


(5 stars)

Highly recommend the book. I was not much interested in intros, I skipped them, as their conclusions are self evident.

Clear reading


(5 stars)

Clear easy to understand readers

Surprisingly clear


(5 stars)

It is surprisingly clear after listening to this that the ancient Greeks we're talkin not about crude observations but the "Elements" of Earth, Water, Air and Fire are the descriptions of states of matter solid, liquid, gas and plasma. And the triangles to which they speak of is what we understand as the "Elements" today and molecular geometry that describes their interaction with surrounding elements