Cover of Timaeus

Timaeus

by Plato

First published
359 BC
Reading level
Fairly demanding
Price
Free

About the book

"Timaeus" by Plato is a philosophical dialogue written around 360 BC. Through lengthy monologues, the work explores the nature of the physical universe and humanity's place within it. A divine craftsman—the demiurge—brings order from chaos, shaping the cosmos according to eternal, perfect forms. The dialogue examines why the world exists as a living, intelligent whole and how the elements were organized from primordial disorder. It also references the legendary tale of Atlantis, setting the stage for deeper cosmological speculation.

  • Classical literature
  • Cosmology

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #1572. Timaeus on Wikipedia.

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