內容簡介
政治家篇《劍橋政治思想史原著系列》每一本都有一個評論性的導言，加上歷史年表、生平梗概，進一步閱讀指南，以及必要的辭彙表和原文註解。《劍橋政治思想史原著系列》的最終目的，為西文政治思想的整個發展脈絡提供一個清晰的輪廓。
目錄
Pfeface
Introduction
Translators note
Chronology of principal events
Bibliography
Biographical note
Index
前言
It is perhaps appropriate for the Statesman to be the first of Platos works to come out in the Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought; it is certainly the most neglected of Platos political works， and the one most in need of a fresh presentation. The new translation provides a more accessible version than any hitherto available in English， and the introduction attempts to locate the dialogue in Platos political thought， taking advantage of the enormous improvements in our understanding of this that recent discussions have produced. Few of these directly concern the States- man itself， and we hope that this new translation will help to bring the work more centrally into discussions of Platos political thought， along with the more familiar Republic and Laws.
The translation and textual notes are by Robin Waterfield， and the introduction and other notes by Julia Annas. Each of us， however， has read and commented on the others work， and the result is the product of a harmonious collaboration that has been interesting and profitable for both of us. We hope that its fruits will introduce others to this uneven， often puzzling but seminal dialogue.
精彩書摘
This seems to be a simple and welcome point.Plato is saying that political theory should not come up with solutions which are so idealized that they have no hope of applving in the world as it is.And this is certainly what Platos position iS in the Laws f874e- 875d) when he says that the ideal expeft ruler is an unattainable ideal.since it is not in human nature to attain to experr knowledge or to remain uncorrupted bv the potential for its use on other humans.When this is Platos firm conclusion.he ceases to devote attention to tlle expert ruler as a solution to political problems.
But in the Statesman it is harder to see exacfly what PlatoS position iS.For despite his clear application of the myth of the Golden Age，PlatO continues to develop the idea that the experr ruler iS t11e best answer to political problems.the best Way to produce a state run in the interests of a11.0ther types of solution are，by the end of the dialogue，firmly relegated tO second.best. Further.his treatment of the Golden Age myth is itself somewhat elusive.He treats the details of the traditional material in ways tllat are strikinglysurreal，raising unavoidablv the question of how seriously he iS talking the idea even as a myth.And this in turn clouds the idea of just what the circumstances are which are being excluded as too ideal for relevance to actual societies.
