Plato’s Cosmology: Timaeus of Plato

A cosmology is a narrative concerning the creation of the universe. Many ancient philosophers have written or elaborated this kind of work. The Platonic dialogue Timeus is an account of the work of the creator god (called the demiurge – or artisan) sculpting the chaotic material world in accordance with the immaterial model of the Ideas. But the text was written in a very hermetic and symbolic language, making its interpretation difficult or even impossible without the knowledge of the references and symbols used by Plato. This book is a complete translation of the text followed by a comprehensive commentary explaining in detail every passage. Francis MacDonald Cornford is one of the most important ancient philosophy scholars, and this work reveals his deep knowledge of Platonic and Greek thought. It is a must have for anyone interested in greek and Platonic philosophy.