Immensely erudite, while startlingly original—Altman’s claim that Plato intended a univocal reading order for his dialogues opens interpretive vistas on every aspect of Plato’s thinking. Altman takes Plato’s own theories of pedagogy as exegetically foundational, and thereby transforms these dialogues into complex tests designed to reinforce the reader’s mastery of Platonism through the negotiation of an impressive regimen of challenge and misdirection. In The Guardians on Trial, we rediscover what philosophy is for Plato, and how instilling Platonism itself constituted Plato’s deepest commitment.

Richard Foley, University of Missouri

William Altman’s The Guardians on Trial is a masterful work that will change the landscape of how we read and interpret the Platonic dialogues for generations to come. Altman’s detailed and compelling arguments about how we should best read Plato’s dialogues in light of the centrality of the Republic encourage us to rethink our past assumptions about reading order and Plato’s ultimate pedagogical aims. In this way, the book leads us to reconsider the shadows on our own cave walls that we have regarded as doctrinal truths. As we read the dialogues again in light of Altman’s erudition and insight, we must grapple anew with the terrain explored in dialogues that centrally concern the death of Socrates, from the Euthyphro to the Phaedo.

Anne-Marie Schultz, Baylor University

With his characteristic insight, Altman turns to the dialogues ranging from Euthyphro to Phaedo in his reconstructed reading order. The Guardians on Trial is a superb addition to Altman’s trailblazing work on Platonic pedagogy. Altman’s originality is on full display. He not only offers innovative readings of individual dialogues, but he also further demonstrates the immense value of approaching the Platonic corpus through the lens of the reading order. I highly recommend this book!

Avi Mintz, University of Tulsa