Phaedrus
Socrates meets the young Phaedrus outside the walls of Athens on a hot day, and the two of them walk along the Ilissus to sit under a plane tree. Phaedrus has with him a speech by the orator Lysias arguing that a boy should favor a lover who does not love him; Socrates improvises a better speech on the same side, then recants and delivers a third in praise of love as a divine madness, with the image of the soul as a charioteer driving two horses. The second half of the dialogue turns to rhetoric and to the question of whether writing can ever teach anything. This edition presents the text in Benjamin Jowett's translation, with his introduction. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; the opening pages are free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Phaedrus
Phaedrus by Plato can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Phaedrus online?
Yes. Phaedrus opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Phaedrus free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Phaedrus is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Phaedrus in the public domain?
Yes. Phaedrus by Plato is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Benjamin Jowett. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Phaedrus?
About 2 h 33 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Phaedrus?
Phaedrus by Plato is filed under "Philosophy" in the Vinteuil library.
