Book Description

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!