The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro; Apology; Crito; Phaedo (Penguin Classics)

The Last Days of Socrates is a essential reading for anyone with an interest in philosophy or Western culture. What I find so amazing about and most ancient philosophy is that the questions it raises are still relevant today. For those readers not familiar with Plato, the author of the four dialogues that make up the book, he lived during the fourth century BC. Plato is credited with founding the Academy in Athens, which was essentially the first institution devoted to philosophical research and teaching. Many scholars claim it was the prototype of all Western universities.It's interesting to note that, Plato was a student of Socrates. And much like Jesus Christ, we have no written documents from Socrates himself. Strangely, this isn't the only similarity between Socrates and Jesus Christ either. Whatever the reason, it seems that many people in modern society believe that the philosophy of the ancients is not relevant to them. I believe the contrary and I'm not sure we're any wiser in the modern era. In fact, I'm quite sure that we aren't. Yes, technology has changed, but life's most important questions have not. And we still don't have answers to them. If anything, there are more distractions and noise that keep us from pondering the mysteries of life today.Anyway, this book is a collection of four early Socratic dialogues: "Euthyphro," "Apology," "Crito," and "Phaedo." Translator Harold Tarrant explains in his introduction that most scholars do not believe the events depicted by Plato actually happened, but rather, they are Plato's depiction of Socratic philosophy in action. It's also worth noting that the Socratic dialogues were not unique to Plato.In the "Euthyphro", Plato writes: "Consider the following point: is the holy approved by the gods because it's holy, or is it holy because it's approved?" This dialogue essentially examines Socrates' questioning of religion, more specifically, holiness or piety. Holiness was one of five Greek virtues. It seems that the purpose of the dialogue is to explore the definitions of holiness by asking the difficult questions. We are left to consider whether Socratic doubt is more truthful and more valuable than unreasoned religious dogmatism. "The question which excites the Socratic mind is how anybody, man or god, can recognize any action as an instance of goodness. What is the standard, and in what terms can we express it?" On that question it must be said that "Euthyphro" fails to provide an answer that suffices.In the "Apology", Plato writes: "It is because they enjoy hearing me examine those who think that they are wise when they are not; an experience which has its amusing side." The classic scenario in a Greek tragedy is when a person of high moral principle is confronted step by step with a bad situation from which there is no escape, oftentimes through a conflict with people of lower moral principles. As the "Apology" demonstrates, the art of writing a tragedy was not lost on Plato.The "Apology", then, is Socrates' self-defense at his trial. Socrates, using his rhetorical skills, talks of the ills apparent in the Athenian government. According to Plato, Socrates did not live an ordinary and quiet life. He didn't care for the things that most people care about: making money, a comfortable home, high status, and political appointments. He certainly was not afraid of dying. As he said, "Nothing can harm a good man either in life or after death, and his fortunes are not a matter of indifference to the gods."Socrates supposedly said: "It is only too likely that neither of us has any knowledge to boast of; but he thinks he knows something which he does not know, whereas I am quite conscious of my ignorance. At any rate it seems that I am wiser than he is to the small extent, that I do not think that I know what I don't know." Accordingly, this book really ought to be read by anyone seeking a liberal education.

The Socratic method has frustrated me. I have often despised the critical format which seemed to me to deny all conclusions, but Socrates surprised me. It is as though his methods were on trial and he has to defend them in this book.In the end he gives compelling dialogue offering his own beliefs and offering proofs. Showing how Socratic thinking helped him build strong proofs.I found that he was trying to simmer dogmatism and ignorance out of a dialogue until it became purely intellectual and the outcome under his guidance amazed me. He was brilliant, and I myself was overcome with emotion at his verdict and execution. What a treasure these four socratic dialogues are! I did not expect this book to be one of my favorites of all time but it really is!

Every few years I read this book. The first time was in college; I enjoyed it so much. The subjects argued (piety, justice, etc.) are timeless and profound. The method of argument ("Socratic") is still used today in law schools because of its clarity and rigor. The translation is also excellent, conveying not just meaning but nuances such as tone. The footnotes are also helpful, adding additional information and clarity.

The book still had tabs in it so I was worried it would have writing in it (always a risk when ordering used, but I like to try and do my part for the environment). The tabs were the only "marking" so I'd say a win!

Swan song, in the gray version of the Five Dialogues, the Hackett Classics, is a sign of damnation. In this book, it is a sign you are going to heaven. But still sad because it also means you are going to die. So there is philosophizing. Also, in this version Stygian is spelled as it is in Paradise Lost. It is not spelled correctly in the Hackett Classics version. However, it is usually a river named Styx, not Stygian that bounds the underworld.

I am a big philosophy fan and if you are just getting into that type of literature I recommend reading this whole book.

This is probably my favorite work of Plato and I have read it countless times.

An amazing book, although I have my reservations about the translation style. The author tried make it contemporary, and while I appreciate that there is a limit on what you can do without destroying the actual spirit of the writings of Plato. I managed to read an older translation (circa 1969) and appreciated that version much better. There seems to be a hot-bed of argument regarding the translation process of books the farther you go back in time. I don't intend to get into a philosophical debate when rating this as it is the matter of the book and not what is inside. If you prefer to read books with a more modern slant on translation then certainly this book will suit your needs. However if you desire for a more older English that reaches a larger vocabulary palate then I suggest looking somewhere else.

Good books

Amazing book and great translation. The content itself is a great primer for the socratic method and a perfect introduction to Plato and Socrates themselves. Ideal for anyone looking to get into philosophy

朗読に適している。素晴らしい。

war schrecklich lange her, so weit ich mich erinnern kann war es ganz gutwas long time ago, as far as I can remember , it was alright

Probably the best book I've ever read