Plato

The Republic by Plato (Penguin Classics) — one of the most important texts in Western civilisation, this edition’s direct prose makes Plato’s foundational questions about justice, governance, education, and the soul feel immediately urgent and alive. The Allegory of the Cave, the concept of philosopher-kings, and the critique of democracy — all as relevant today as they were in ancient Athens.

The Apology of Socrates by Plato (Penguin Classics) — Socrates’ defence at his trial in Athens, 399 BC. Facing death with irony and complete moral courage, he refuses to abandon his philosophical mission. At under sixty pages, one of the most rewarding texts in Western philosophy. Trans. Hugh Tredennick.

Timaeus and Critias by Plato (Penguin Classics) — his cosmological creation myth and the only ancient source for the legend of Atlantis. Timaeus shaped Christian theology and medieval cosmology; Critias describes the island civilisation destroyed for abandoning virtue. Translated by Desmond Lee.

The Laws by Plato (Penguin Classics) — his last and most pragmatic work on legislation and constitutional design. More practical than the Republic, it addresses education, religion, and the full social organisation required for a good state. The fullest expression of Plato’s mature political thought. Translated by Trevor Saunders.