In this thought-provoking text Danielle Allen eloquently argues that Plato wrote to change Athenian culture and thereby transform Athenian politics. She makes the case that Plato was not only the world's first systematic political philosopher, but also the western world's first think-tank activist and message man.

Why Plato Wrote argues that Plato was not only the world's first systematic political philosopher, but also the western world's first think-tank activist and message man. * Shows that Plato wrote to change Athenian society and thereby transform Athenian politics * Offers accessible discussions of Plato's philosophy of language and political theory * Selected by Choice as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2011