A new version of Plato's four-part discourse extolling Socrates' brilliance. Plato's account of Socrates' trial and execution in 399 BC marks a turning point in Western literature as well as in ancient Athens' way of life. In these four dialogues, Plato elaborates on the Socratic notion of personal accountability and illustrates how Socrates, who was ordered by his fellow Athenians to commit suicide, lived and died in accordance with his own philosophy. In Euthyphro, Socrates engages in a discussion about goodness outside the courtroom; in Apology, he defends himself against all accusations of impiety; in Crito, he rejects a plea to be let out of prison; and in Phaedo, he approaches death with composure and an insightful discussion of eternity.
"This edition, which replaces the original Loeb edition ..., offers text, translation, and annotation that are fully current with modern scholarship"--Front flap of dust jacket, volume 1.
Included in this volume are "Euthyphro," "Apology," "Crito," and the Death Scene from "Phaedo." Translated by F.J. Church. Revisions and Introduction by Robert D. Cumming.
Among the most important and influential philosophical works in Western thought: the dialogues entitled Euthyphro, Apology, Crito and Phaedo. Translations by distinguished classical scholar Benjamin Jowett.
Socrates (c. 470 - 399 BC) was a classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, and as being the first moral philosopher of the Western ethical tradition of thought. In 399 BC, Socrates went on trial and was subsequently found guilty of both corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens and of impiety ("not believing in the gods of the state"), and as a punishment sentenced to death, caused by the drinking of a mixture containing poison hemlock. This collection written by Plato, his student, recounts the final days of Socrates' life in four different books. Euthyphro is a Socratic Dialog whose events took place weeks before the trial of Socrates. The dialogue covers subjects such as the meaning of piety and justice and takes place near the court of the king magistrate for preliminary hearings of a possible trial. The Apology of Socrates is the Socratic dialogue that depicts the trial and presents his speech of legal self-defence. Crito depicts a conversation between Socrates and his wealthy friend Crito regarding justice, and the appropriate response to injustice. Socrates thinks that injustice may not be answered with injustice, and refuses Crito's offer to finance his escape from prison. The dialogue contains an ancient statement of the social contract theory of government. Phaedo is set in the last hours prior to the death of Socrates. The philosophical subject of the dialogue is the immortality of the soul. In the dialogue, Socrates discusses the nature of the afterlife on his last day before being executed by drinking hemlock. A Must Add Collection that Belongs in Every Bookshelf!
The Apology is Plato's version of the speech given by Socrates as he defended himself in 399 BC against the charges of "corrupting the young, and by not believing in the gods in whom the city believes, but in other daimonia that are novel" . "Apology" here has its earlier meaning (now usually expressed by the word "apologia") of speaking in defense of a cause or of one's beliefs or actions. The general term apology, in context to literature, defends a world from attack (opposite of satire-which attacks the world). Crito is a 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. Socrates thinks that injustice may not be answered with injustice, and refuses Crito's offer to finance his escape from prison. This dialogue contains an ancient statement of the social contract theory of government. Plato's, also known to ancient readers as Plato's On The Soul, is one of the great dialogues of his middle period, along with the Republic and the Symposium. The Phaedo, which depicts the death of Socrates, is also Plato's fourth and last dialogue to detail the philosopher's final days, following Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito.
Plato's Meno and Phaedo are two of the most important works of ancient western philosophy and continue to be studied around the world. The Meno is a seminal work of epistemology. The Phaedo is a key source for Platonic metaphysics and for Plato's conception of the human soul. Together they illustrate the birth of Platonic philosophy from Plato's reflections on Socrates' life and doctrines. This edition offers new and accessible translations of both works, together with a thorough introduction that explains the arguments of the two dialogues and their place in Plato's thought.