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Episode 24·February 19, 2018·plato

Introducing the Father of Western Esotericism: Plato

Plato has been characterised in almost as many ways as he has had interpreters. The plagiarist. The mystic. The con-man. The proto-fascist. The dualist. The monist. The arch-rationalist. The great spiritual thinker. The teacher. The dismantler of all teachings. The deceiver. The truth-teller.

Listen on SHWEP20 sources in collection · 20 translated

Primary Sources

Republic, Laws, and Timaeus

Plato · -375 · Greek · 706 pages

In this profound synthesis of 'Republic,' 'Laws,' and 'Timaeus,' Plato bridges the gap between the earthly and the divine. He argues that virtue is not merely a behavior, but a liberation of the soul achieved through alignment with the celestial sphere and the internalizing of 'common conceptions.'

69% translated

Twenty-four Dialogues of Plato

Plato · 895 · Greek · 869 pages
Fully translated

Vat.gr.1

Plato · 900 · Greek · 404 pages

In this provocative text, Plato subverts the traditional Western emphasis on human agency by defining man as a 'divine plaything,' suggesting that our greatest dignity lies in our role as puppets of the gods. Rather than finding meaning in the grim struggle of war or history, the author argues for a

Fully translated

On Paradoxical Machines

Anthemius of Tralles · 950 · Greek · 432 pages

In 'On Paradoxical Machines,' Anthemius of Tralles offers a rare synthesis of high Euclidean theory and the practical grit of Byzantine engineering. As one of the master architects of Constantinople, Anthemius argues that the most profound challenges of the physical world—from the construction of bu

Fully translated

Plato . Platon . Platonis Dialogi

Plato · 1150 · Greek · 508 pages

This collection captures the urgent, living spirit of Socratic inquiry at its most potent. Plato argues that we must abandon the distractions of the physical realm to grasp eternal truths. He warns that writing creates a dangerous illusion of wisdom by substituting memorized facts for internal under

Fully translated

Diversorum scriptorum Opera varia . Diaphoron syngrapheon Erga diaphora . Titulum corrige Platonis Opera omnia cum prolegomenis

Plato · 1350 · Greek · 1098 pages

Plato’s work functions as a complete framework for human conduct and cosmic understanding. He moves beyond simple dialogue to categorize the structure of reality, linking music, numbers, and political virtue to the divine. Each page challenges the reader to distinguish between fleeting sensory opini

73% translated

Cologny, Fondation Martin Bodmer, Cod. Bodmer 136

Plato · 1400 · Greek · 359 pages

In this legendary account of Socrates’ final day, Plato (narrated through Phaedo) investigates the profound relationship between the soul, the divine, and the morality of existence. The text presents a startlingly calm Socrates who argues that humans are the 'possessions of the gods,' framing life a

Fully translated

Plato De legibus . Platonos Nomoi . Ac praeterea alii eiusdem [Platonis] Dialogi tum gnesioi, tum nothoi, Definitiones, et epistolae

Plato · 1450 · Greek · 712 pages

This work represents the peak of Plato's political thought, moving beyond abstract theories of justice to the mechanics of statecraft. He argues that laws are empty without the internal habits of virtue that only education can provide. Plato forces the reader to confront the reality that excess and

Fully translated

Plato, Cratylus and Secular Florilegium

Plato · 1501 · Greek · 131 pages

This work presents an unflinching look at the architecture of a well-lived life. It asserts that true virtue is not an action but a deliberate choice to align the soul with divine reason. By dismantling the common obsession with physical gratification, the text demands that we prioritize the health

Fully translated

The Complete Works of Plato Translated by Marsilio Ficino

Plato; Ficino, Marsilio (translator) · 1518 · Latin · 796 pages

This collection serves as a portal to the mind of Plato as seen through the eyes of one of the 15th century's most influential thinkers. Ficino treats philosophy not as a sterile academic exercise but as a medicine for the soul. He constructs an argument for the harmony between pagan wisdom and Chri

Fully translated

The Chaldean Oracles

Zoroaster · 1539 · Latin · 34 pages

This text offers a rare, syncretic exploration of Zoroastrian oracles interpreted through the lens of Neoplatonic and Christian thought. It presents a universe structured in three distinct parts—the eternal, the immortal but generated, and the decaying—and positions the human soul as a mediator 'glu

Fully translated

The Complete Works of Plato

Plato (Ficino translation) · 1557 · Latin · 718 pages

This monumental edition of Plato’s *Opera Omnia* is more than a translation; it is a sacred bridge between Greek antiquity and Renaissance humanism, curated by Marsilio Ficino to harmonize philosophy with divine religion. Within these pages, readers will find the 'divine' Plato—a thinker who argues

Fully translated

The Complete Works of the Divine Plato

Plato; trans. Marsilio Ficino · 1590 · Latin · 916 pages

This 1590 edition of Plato’s 'Complete Works' serves as a spiritual and intellectual map of the human condition, viewed through the transformative Neoplatonic lens of Marsilio Ficino. Synthesizing classical dialectic with religious piety, the text argues that the ultimate end of man is to achieve a

Fully translated

Philosophical Magic: Zoroaster and his 320 Chaldean Oracles

Francesco Patrizi (ed.) · 1593 · Latin · 522 pages

This work reclaims the identity of Zoroaster as a primordial philosopher rather than a mythical figure. Patrizi argues that the cosmos is a divine construction, pulsating with the activity of the Paternal Mind and maintained by the soul. Readers will find a rigorous defense of theurgy as a legitimat

Fully translated

Philosophical Magic: The Chaldean Oracles

Francesco Patrizi · 1593 · Latin · 530 pages

This text provides a bridge between ancient pagan theology and the Christian era by asserting that the oldest sages were actually practitioners of a high, holy religion. Patrizi challenges the Aristotelian status quo of his time by arguing that philosophy is inherently tied to theurgy and the animat

Fully translated

Complete Plato (Thomas Taylor trans.)

Plato | Taylor, Thomas (trans.) · 1804 · English · 2850 pages

Thomas Taylor’s 'Complete Plato' is a monumental achievement that offers more than a mere translation; it provides the 'key' to the Platonic system through the profound insights of ancient Neoplatonic commentators. Taylor argues that philosophy is a divine discipline designed to lead the soul away f

Fully translated

Works of Plato

Plato · 1858 · English · 585 pages

Plato’s 'The Laws' represents a monumental shift in the philosopher's journey, moving from the idealism of his youth toward a rigorous, practical exploration of legislation and social order. Translated by George Burges in 1880, this edition provides a meticulous 'literal version' that preserves the

Fully translated

Works of Plato (Republic, Timaeus, Critias)

Plato · 1902 · Greek · 562 pages

Plato, the architect of Western philosophy, invites readers into a series of intellectual battles that remain startlingly modern. In these pages, he dismantles the cynical view that 'might makes right' and proposes a revolutionary vision of an ideal state where gender is no barrier to leadership and

Fully translated

The Chaldaean Oracles

G.R.S. Mead · 1908 · Greek · 105 pages

G.R.S. Mead brings to life one of the most mysterious and influential texts of late antiquity, bridging the gap between Hellenic philosophy and Eastern mysticism. Through his unique Gnostic-leaning perspective, Mead decodes the cryptic Oracles to describe a universe governed by 'Iynges' (divine whir

Fully translated

The Hermetic Writings, Volume 1

Walter Scott · 1926 · English · 648 pages

Walter Scott provides a rigorous investigation into the Hermetic writings, treating them as a coherent system of ancient philosophy. He strips away centuries of confusion to reveal a hierarchy where humanity serves as the essential bridge between the material and the divine. You will encounter argum

Fully translated

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