Timaeus

Composed in the fourth century BCE, Timaeus presents Plato's cosmological dialogue on the origin, structure, and rational order of the universe.

Set within a philosophical conversation among Socrates, Timaeus, Critias, and Hermocrates, the dialogue offers an account of the creation of the cosmos by a divine craftsman, or Demiurge, who imposes mathematical harmony upon pre-existing chaos. Through its exploration of the elements, the nature of the soul, and the structure of the human body, the work seeks to reconcile metaphysics, natural philosophy, and moral order.

Timaeus occupies a distinctive place within Plato's corpus, bridging speculative cosmology and ethical reflection. Its influence extended deeply into Hellenistic philosophy, early Christian theology, and Renaissance thought, shaping conceptions of natural law and cosmic intelligibility for centuries.

This SMK Books edition presents the complete dialogue in English translation, preserving the philosophical structure and narrative form of the original work.