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The Last Days of Socrates
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The Last Days of Socrates (collective work) (edit title/settings)

Euthyphro / Apology / Crito / Phaedo

by Plato (Author) (edit contributors)

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Plato’s Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Phaedo These four dialogues present the trial, imprisonment, and execution of Socrates who Phaedo said was “the wisest, best, and most righteous person I have ever known.” In the Euthyphro, Socrates approaches the court where he will be tried on... read more

Books in This Collection

  1. Euthyphro

    Euthyphro

    by Plato (Author)

    Euthyphro is one of Plato's early dialogues. Taking place during the weeks leading up to Socrates' trial, the dialogue features Socrates and Euthyphro, a man known for claiming to be a religious expert. They attempt to pinpoint a definition for...

  2. The Apology of Socrates

    The Apology of Socrates

    by Plato (Author)

    (The) Apology (of Socrates) is Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates as he defends himself against the charges of being a man "who corrupted the young, refused to worship the gods, and created new deities". "Apology" here has its...

  3. Crito

    Crito

    by Plato (Author)

    Crito s a short but important dialogue by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato. It is a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito regarding justice, injustice, and the appropriate response to injustice.

  4. PhaedoPhaedoPlato

    Phaedo

    by Plato

Summary edit see section history

The life and teachings of Socrates (c. 469-399 B.C.) stand at the foundation of Western philosophy. He lived in Athens during a time of transition (Athens' defeat at the hands of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.) ended the Golden Age of Athenian civilization) and had a tremendous... read more

The life and teachings of Socrates (c. 469-399 B.C.) stand at the foundation of Western philosophy. He lived in Athens during a time of transition (Athens' defeat at the hands of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.) ended the Golden Age of Athenian civilization) and had a tremendous influence on the Athenian youth of his day. Socrates himself never recorded his thoughts, so our only record of his life and thought come from his contemporaries. These accounts are mixed and often biased by the interpretations the author wishes to place on Socrates.
It seems that Socrates led a very simple life, renouncing wealth and holding himself aloof from political ambitions, preferring instead to mingle with the crowds in Athens' public places, engaging whomever he could in conversation. Nonetheless, we know that he did serve as a hoplite (heavy infantry) in several battles during the Peloponnesian War and that he was distinguished for his bravery. In 399, Socrates was brought before a jury of around 500 Athenians on charges of not recognizing the gods recognized by the state, of inventing new deities, and of corrupting the youth of Athens.
The most likely reason for this trial is Socrates' close association with a number of men who had fallen out of political favor in Athens. But because an amnesty had been declared for political offenders, other charges had to be brought against him. Socrates was found guilty by a narrow margin and then sentenced to death. Socrates' response to the charges brought against him are recorded by Plato in The Apology.
Plato (c. 427-347 B.C.) was one of Socrates' greatest admirers, and our knowledge of Socrates stems mostly from Plato's dialogues (for other accounts, see Aristophanes' satirical presentation in The Clouds and the writings of Xenophon). Plato was born into a prominent Athenian family, and would have been expected to pursue a career in politics. However, the short-lived Spartan- imposed oligarchy of the Thirty Tyrants (404-403) and the trial and execution of his mentor Socrates led Plato to become disgusted with the Athenian political life, and he devoted himself instead to teaching and philosophical inquiry. To that end, he founded the Academy around 385 B.C., which counted Aristotle among its students. The Academy lasted in some form until 527 A.D., 912 years in total, and has served as the prototype for the Western university system.
Plato's thought is mostly recorded in the form of dialogues that feature Socrates as the protagonist. Apparently, the Socratic dialogue was a small literary genre at the time: not just Plato, but many of Socrates' other students recorded philosophical debates in this form. Though we can't be certain as to the specific dates of composition, Plato's dialogues can generally be classed into early, middle, and late periods. The early dialogues were written soon after Socrates' death, and in them we get the clearest picture of Socrates and Socratic philosophy. As Plato matured, however, he developed an increasingly distinct voice and philosophical outlook. The figure of Socrates in these middle and late dialogues (The Republic and Phaedo are two exemplary works of the more mature Plato) becomes more of a mouthpiece for Plato's own views. The Euthyphro is one of Plato's earlier dialogues, in which we find none of his more characteristic doctrines, but rather an attempt to present Socrates the teacher. Instead of positive doctrines or ideas, the dialogue is characterized by the use of Socratic irony in an attempt to teach others to recognize their own ignorance.

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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Good, Sir, you are an Athenian, a citizen of the greatest city with the greatest reputation for both wisdom and power; are you not ashamed of your eagerness to possess as much wealth, reputation, and honors as possible, while you do not care for nor give thought to wisdom or truth, or the best possible state of your soul?”
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  • “I am wiser than this man; it is likely that neither of us knows anything worthwhile, but he thinks he knows something when he does not, whereas when I do not know, neither do I think I know; so I am likely to be wiser than he to this small extent, that I do not think I know what I do not know.”
    Highlighted by 38 Kindle customers
  • Socrates is guilty of wrongdoing in that he busies himself studying things in the sky and below the earth; he makes the worse into the stronger argument, and he teaches these same things to others.
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  • It is not difficult to avoid death, [b] gentlemen; it is much more difficult to avoid wickedness, for it runs faster than death.
    Highlighted by 24 Kindle customers
  • Well then, what is dear to the gods is pious, what is [7] not is impious.
    Highlighted by 22 Kindle customers
  • Is the pious being loved by the gods because it is pious, or is it pious because it is being loved by the gods?
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  • “This man among you, mortals, is wisest who, like Socrates, understands that his wisdom is worthless.”
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  • pious is to do what I am doing now, to prosecute the wrongdoer, be it about murder or temple robbery or [e] anything else, whether the wrongdoer is your father or your mother or anyone else; not to prosecute is impious.
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  • I think, Socrates, that the godly and pious is the part of the just that is concerned with the care of the gods, while that concerned with the care of men is the remaining part of justice.
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  • Socrates is guilty of corrupting the young and of not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other new spiritual things.
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  • Wealth does not bring about excellence, but excellence makes wealth and everything else good for men, both individually and collectively.”13
    Highlighted by 10 Kindle customers
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First Sentence edit see section history

Discussing the type of dialogue of the Euthyphro, and the other works with which it is allied, may be more productive than trying to fix upon the date of the work.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Introduction
Socrates in Action: Euthyphro
Socrates on Trial: The Apology
Socrates in Prison: Crito
The Last Conversation: Phaedo
Notes to Euthyphro
Notes to The Apology
Notes to Crito
Notes to Phaedo
Select Bibliography

Series & Lists edit see section history

This book is in Penguin Classics. (publisher edition list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Plato (Author)

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Page Count: 58

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