39 pages • 1 hour read
The Last Days of Socrates
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Book Brief
272
Biography • Nonfiction
Athens • Classical Greece
-1
Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
Adult
16+ years
Super Short Summary
The Last Days of Socrates by Plato explores the trial and execution of Socrates through four dialogues—"Euthyphro," "Apology," "Crito," and "Phaedo." These works depict Socrates questioning piety, defending his philosophy in court against charges of impiety and corrupting the youth, discussing the morality of escaping his sentence, and explaining his views on the immortality of the soul to his followers.
Contemplative
Inspirational
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Plato's The Last Days of Socrates is praised for its profound exploration of morality, justice, and the human condition, providing deep philosophical insights. Positively, readers commend its compelling dialogues and timeless relevance. However, its dense, archaic language can challenge modern readers' comprehension. Overall, it remains a staple in philosophical literature.
Who Should Read The Last Days of Socrates?
A reader who enjoys The Last Days of Socrates by Plato typically has an interest in classical philosophy, ethical dilemmas, and Socratic dialogues. Comparable to fans of The Republic or Nicomachean Ethics, they seek profound questions about morality, justice, and the human condition.
Euthyphro
Euthyphro
A character engaged in a conversation with Socrates, bringing an earnest religious and moral perspective that sets the stage for philosophical examination and dialogue on piety.
Plato
Plato
Though not a character within the dialogues, he is the author crafting these philosophical texts, using the format to explore deep questions through the interactions of historical and fictional elements.
The Last Days of Socrates is a collection of four dialogues by Plato, which collectively detail the philosophical thoughts and the trial of the philosopher Socrates before his death.
The text is considered one of the earliest examples of the "philosophical dialogue" literary genre, a form that was pioneered by Plato and has influenced countless subsequent works in Western philosophy.
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An interesting feature of The Last Days of Socrates is that it showcases Socratic irony, where Socrates pretends ignorance to encourage his interlocutors to express their views, often revealing contradictions and prompting deeper reflection.
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272
Biography • Nonfiction
Athens • Classical Greece
-1
Hackett Publishing Company, Inc.
Adult
16+ years
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