Socrates' Defence

This book was amazing it covered the details of Socrates in court and true Ancient Greek philosophy I would 10/10 reccomend this book to anyone trying out philosophy

book 10/10 i wush i could read it for the first time

I love how he started to describe his situation and how he was the one how will always be right. I'd keep reading and never get bored or something

本は厚紙のような表紙とページで、あまり扱いやすくはないです。 本文は、古すぎない英語でした。

First little book i bought and read in years. Yes, i'm one of those guys; the exact opposite of well-read, but this book sparked a lust for more. For the price, it gives way more back in return.

This is Plato’s account of his mentor, Socrates, as he met his accusers in Athenian court to defend himself against charges of blasphemy and corrupting the young. Socrates makes short work of the weak arguments made by his chief accuser, Meletus, through logical deconstruction. What’s interesting is that the defence isn’t really of Socrates against his charges but of his life and philosophy, which is basically what the trial is really about. His latest troubles began when the Oracle at Delphi announced that “there is no one wiser than Socrates” which puzzled Socrates who maintained that he was not a wise man at all. But he came to realise that he was the only one who was aware of his ignorance while everyone else was ignorant of their ignorance, making him indeed a wise man. Socrates refuted any charge of atheism - he was a devoutly religious man who cared more deeply about virtue and the soul than anyone, he claimed. The very fact that he spent all of his time demanding people live more philosophically, pursuing thought and virtue over belongings and wealth, pointed to that fact. Amusingly, he compared himself to a gadfly to the Athenian state, spurring it on act, therefore making him a benefactor and deserving of a salary. Not so amusingly, that was the final straw that led to his death sentence by way of hemlock poisoning. He was given the choice though to change his ways and live but he kept to his principles, knowing he would die by doing so. If only we could all meet our end with the dignity and fearlessness Socrates did. As he predicted, he became a martyr to the state and his words live on today. If there’s a problem, it’s with this Little Black Classics edition which really could’ve benefitted from a page of context before launching into Socrates’ monologue. As it is, I stopped reading after a few pages, went online to read the background to the case, and returned more edified. All this edition needs is a couple paragraphs preceding it. Otherwise, this is a fine piece of writing that is as relevant today as it was in antiquity. Socrates speaks through Plato across the millennia to remind us the unexamined life isn’t worth living, to reject materialism and to never stop thinking - fine words to live by.

thought-provoking. alway relevant.