Volume IV therefore offers a general introduction to Platos life and writings, and covers the so-called 'early' and 'middle' periods of his philosophical development (up to and including the Republic).

Preface; List of abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. Life of Plato and philosophical influences; 3. The dialogues; 4. Early socratic dialogues; 5. Protagoras, meno, euthydemus, gorgias, menexenus; 6. Phaedo, symposium, phaedrus; 7. The republic; Bibliography; Indexes.