Subject
Socrates, 470 BC-399 BC Books
Best books
Plato
Symposium
"Symposium" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written between 385-370 BC. At a banquet in ancient Athens, notable figures including Socrates, Alcibiades, and Aristophanes engage in a contest of speeches praising Eros, the god of love. Each man offers his perspective on love's nature and power—from inspiring battlefield courage to transcending earthly desire. Through conflicting ideas and shifting viewpoints, the dialogue explores love's deepest meanings while showcasing both philosophical depth and literary artistry.
Plato
Phaedrus
"Phaedrus" by Plato is a dialogue written around 370 BC. Socrates encounters the young Phaedrus outside Athens, who has just heard a speech about love. What begins as a countryside stroll becomes an intricate philosophical exploration of love, rhetoric, and the human soul. Through three competing speeches, Socrates and Phaedrus debate whether it's better to favor a lover or a non-lover, ultimately revealing deeper questions about divine madness, the soul's nature, and the proper practice of persuasive speech.
Plato
Apology
"Apology" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written after 399 BC. It presents Socrates's legal defense at his trial, where he faced charges of corrupting Athens's youth and introducing new gods. Standing before a jury of perhaps 500 Athenian men, Socrates refuses to use sophisticated rhetoric, speaking instead in his characteristic questioning style. Rather than compromise his integrity to avoid death, he challenges his accusers and maintains his philosophical principles, insisting his only wisdom comes from knowing that he knows nothing.
Plato
Euthyphro
"Euthyphro" by Plato is a philosophical dialogue written around 399 BC. Set outside an Athenian court, it follows Socrates as he awaits trial for impiety. He encounters Euthyphro, a confident prophet prosecuting his own father for murder. Socrates asks Euthyphro to define piety, sparking a rigorous examination that produces increasingly refined definitions—yet none prove satisfactory. Their discussion culminates in a famous dilemma about the gods' relationship to goodness, launching a debate that continues millennia later.
Plato
Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates
"Apology, Crito, and Phaedo of Socrates" by Plato is a collection of philosophical dialogues written in the early 4th century BC. This significant work captures the essence of Socratic thought through three primary discussions surrounding the trial, moral obligations, and the nature of the soul and immortality, focusing on the key character of Socrates, who defies conventional norms as he confronts his death. At the start of the text, the introduction lays the groundwork for understanding the historical context of Plato's works and highlights his importance in philosophy. The opening dialogue, "Apology," details Socrates’ defense during his trial, where he stands resolutely against accusations of impiety and corruption of youth. Socrates engages with the Athenian jury using logic and rhetorical questioning, stressing the value of wisdom over popular opinion and laying the groundwork for his philosophical principles. The beginning shows Socrates contemplating his wisdom in light of the oracle's declaration, establishing his commitment to the pursuit of truth and justice, setting the stage for the deeper themes explored in the subsequent dialogues.
Plato
Meno
"Meno" by Plato is a Socratic dialogue written around 385 BC. The work begins with a simple question: Can virtue be taught? As Socrates and his young interlocutor Meno pursue this inquiry, they encounter profound puzzles about the nature of knowledge itself. How can we search for what we don't know? Why is knowledge more valuable than true belief? Through dialectical exchange and a famous geometric demonstration with a slave, Plato explores recollection, learning, and the immortality of the soul.
George Grote
Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume 1
"Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume 1" by George Grote is a scholarly historical account written in the late 19th century. The work focuses on the philosophical landscape of ancient Greece, specifically examining prominent figures such as Socrates, Plato, and their contemporaries from the perspective of their contributions to philosophy and their interactions with contemporary thought. The opening of the book presents an overview of its intent as a continuation of the author's previous historical work, aiming to explore Hellenic philosophy in detail. Grote discusses the significance of Socrates and Plato, emphasizing their roles in shaping philosophical discourse and highlighting their unique methodologies. He outlines the structure of the work, which will cover various philosophers, pre-Socratic thoughts, and the impact of these philosophers on subsequent intellectual developments, thereby underscoring the transition from mythological explanations of the universe to a more reasoned and methodical examination of ethical and political subjects influenced by Socratic dialogue.
Plato
Protagoras
"Protagoras" by Plato is a dialogue written in ancient Greece. Socrates engages the renowned sophist Protagoras in a spirited philosophical debate at the lavish home of Callias. Their central contest: Can virtue be taught? As young Athenians and fellow sophists gather to witness the exchange, the two thinkers clash over the nature of goodness, the unity of virtue, and the relationship between pleasure and moral excellence. This lively encounter reveals fundamental questions about education, wisdom, and what it means to live well.
Unknown
Alcibiades I
"Alcibiades I" by Plato is a dialogue from ancient Greece. Socrates confronts the ambitious young Alcibiades just as he prepares to enter Athenian politics. Through persistent questioning, Socrates exposes the youth's ignorance about justice, virtue, and self-knowledge. He challenges Alcibiades to examine his soul and pursue true wisdom before seeking power. The dialogue explores whether the charismatic young man will accept Socrates as his mentor and commit to improving his character—or whether political ambition will prove too strong.
Xenophon
The Apology
"The Apology" by Xenophon is a Socratic dialogue written about the trial of Socrates in 399 BC. The work presents Socrates's legal defense against charges of corrupting Athenian youth and impiety. Based on accounts from Hermogenes, who attended the trial, Xenophon portrays Socrates's boastful speaking manner as deliberate strategy. The philosopher argues that death is preferable to senility and humbling oneself before unjust persecution. This interpretation contrasts notably with Plato's more famous account of the same trial.
Plato
Parmenides
"Parmenides" by Plato is a dialogue written in ancient Greece. It depicts a young Socrates meeting the renowned philosophers Parmenides and Zeno, who challenge his Theory of Forms. Through rigorous questioning, Parmenides presents five complex arguments that expose potential contradictions in Socrates' distinction between eternal Forms and particular things. The work reverses the usual dynamic, positioning Socrates as student rather than teacher, and explores fundamental questions about unity, plurality, and the nature of reality itself.
Plato
Charmides
"Charmides" by Plato is a philosophical dialogue written in ancient Greece. Socrates returns from battle and encounters the handsome young Charmides at a wrestling school, initiating a provocative inquiry into the nature of sophrosyne—temperance or self-control. Through exchanges with Charmides and his mentor Critias, Socrates dismantles each proposed definition, from quietness to self-knowledge. The dialogue explores profound questions about virtue and wisdom while never reaching a final answer, leaving readers to grapple with these timeless philosophical challenges themselves.
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