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LEVIN, Susan B., Plato's Rivalry wit Medicine. A Struggle and Its Dissolution. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014. XIV,299p. Hardbound with dust wrps. 'Given the increasing scholarly attention to ancient medicine and its cultural context over the past decade or so, Susan Levin’s project investigating Plato’s changing impressions of medicine and its relationship to philosophy is both important and timely. (...) 'Plato’s Rivalry with Medicine' is aimed at a broad audience, beyond scholars of ancient philosophy to bioethicists and medical historians (4; the OUP web page also includes doctors and nurses as other potential readers). Those without specific backgrounds in Plato or ancient medicine might find themselves disoriented at times by some of Levin’s more nuanced discussions; however, these instances are few, since the author takes special care to ensure the work’s accessibility, and the most dense scholarly comments are reserved for the footnotes. Key concepts and terms are defined in the body of the text, all Greek is transliterated, and both the occasional select Greek passages and individual words are translated for the reader. A robust glossary of Greek terms is included at the beginning of the work (xi-xiv), as is an index locorum to Platonic dialogues and Hippocratic treatises at the conclusion. 'Plato’s Rivalry with Medicine' is a well-argued, intellectually challenging, and edifying work that is accessible to a wide range of readers. The fresh light that it shines upon the professional location of physicians within Laws’ Magnesia is a particularly valuable contribution, made all the more so by Levin’s arguments about how Plato eventually arrived at that point. Of no less importance, though, is Levin’s demonstration of how the works of Plato - and ancient thought more broadly - can provide useful insights for exploring contemporary philosophical issues in productive ways. It is my opinion that Levin has achieved this here, and I look forward to seeing further discussion that the book promotes.' (TYSON SUKAVA in Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2015.08.30). € 55.00 (New) ISBN: 9780199919802