This volume contains essays on three of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Unusually for someone whose thought has been so influential, Socrates wrote nothing himself, and our knowledge of his philosophical opinions and method is derived mainly from the engaging and infuriating figure who appears in Plato's dialogues. The philosophy of Socrates and Plato is therefore closely interconnected, and the most powerful elements of Plato's mature thought form the basis of an interpretation of knowledge, reality and morality which is still held and debated by philosophers today. Aristotle's approach to these and other issues is in many ways directly opposed to that of Plato, and has been no less influential. His scientific explorations and systematic philosophical investigation have been instrumental in the development of Western philosophy as we know it, and he remains a pivotal figure in metaphysical and ethical thinking.