The last days of Socrates: Euthyphro, The apology, Crito [and] Phaedo (The Penguin classics)

Plato brings to life completely the incredible character of Socrates in four short books. The first, "Euthyphro" shows the Philosopher in action, cross-examining and pretty much destroying the pious pretensions of another; "The Apology", Socrates' case for his innocence at his trial; "Crito", a conversation with this close friend while the philosopher is...more

Plato brings to life completely the incredible character of Socrates in four short books. The first, "Euthyphro" shows the Philosopher in action, cross-examining and pretty much destroying the pious pretensions of another; "The Apology", Socrates' case for his innocence at his trial; "Crito", a conversation with this close friend while the philosopher is incarcerated in an Athenian prison, and "Phaedo", an account of Socrates' final conversation with his followers on the eve of his execution in 399 BCE. Although the author is Plato, many of the words of his master Socrates are probably quoted verbatim, particularly likely in the detailed accounts of his legal self-defence, giving us a true glimpse of an extraordinarily larger than life character with a philosophy that baffled (and indeed outraged) many of his peers. In other areas some of the dialogue spoken by others in conversations with Socrates seems very similar, leading at least this reader to believe that Plato is really concentrating on showing the character of Socrates and less so that of the many people he spoke with. Alternatively it could be that Socrates' oratory was so mindbogglingly intense that nobody could get a word in edgeways, and thus all of those he conversed with had no choice but to reply, when they got the chance, with the same "Yes Socrates" and "I suppose it must be, Socrates" responses, or words to this effect. I loved Socrates by the end of this book, my second and long overdue re-read of it; but I'm under no illusion that he most certainly wouldn't be a person I'd want to get sat next to in a pub. Genuinely and passionately believing himself to be, somewhat Blues-Brothers like, on a mission from God (though via the Oracle at Delphi rather than Whoopi Goldberg), his task to prove to anyone who thought they might be wise that infact they couldn't possibly be. Naturally both Socrates' premise and methodology - that of an intense philosophical cross-examination inflicted upon his subjects often randomly, and certainly not at their request - landed him in trouble. Intelligent, witty and sarcastic by turn, Socrates demolished his opponents with such rigour that he attracted an abundance of young hangers-on who promptly went forth and emulated his questioning style to the point where he was finally arrested on charges of "corrupting the young". There is much humour here, and very accessible it is too; while the past is indeed a different country when it comes to the logic behind Athenian sentencing, any modern reader will recognise and very probably laugh out loud at Socrates' use of sarcastic flattery while he slowly and laboriously pulls to pieces the arguments of his subjects. There is of course tragedy here too; Socrates is so highly principled that he has no fear of death and will not kow-tow just to get himself off the hook. Instead, in his defence he makes a lengthy philosophical speech which clearly irritates and bores the court - but also angers them as in typical style, Socrates blows their case out of the water with his famed use of logic. Nevertheless the story still ends in tragedy; but at the same time Plato, determined to immortalise his master, has ensured that the (mostly) true stories of Socrates' religious and philosophical beliefs, his character and personality, and his amazing and unshakable strength of character in the face of death, have indeed always remained with us.   hide