Book Description
How people around the world grapple with the great questions posed by Socrates.

What is virtue? What is moderation? What is justice? What is courage? What is good? What is piety? Socrates thought that understanding the perspectives of others on these six great questions would help him become a more excellent human being.

Following in Socrates' footsteps, Christopher Phillips investigates these same questions, beginning in the marketplace of modern-day Athens. He goes on to investigate the timely responses and outlooks of people from different cultures and backgrounds around the world: from Greece and Spain to Japan and Korea, Mexico City, and Chiapas, where the region's indigenous people struggle for fundamental human rights. Phillips also traveled throughout the United States, holding dialogues in diverse communities from New York City to the Navajo Nation.

Introducing us to less familiar thinkers in non-Western traditions who were kindred spirits of Socrates, Phillips enlarges our perspectives on life's fundamental questions, creating an innovative world survey of philosophy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Enlightening
I had to read this book for a course at school.It was interesting, to say the least, and kept my attention throughout the book.I'm not usually one for philosophy books, yet I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good philosophy book to read.

The Socratic Dialogue Continues
Sometimes with philosophy books you don't know what you're getting. You can get either an arcane and stuffy book that boasts about its lofty wisdom, or you can get a down-to-earth book that's thought provoking for the average reader. This book falls into the latter category. The book basically centers around 6 ancient questions asked by Socrates himself. These questions are; what is virtue? what is justice? what is courage? what is good? what is piety? and what is moderation? Phillips has apparently traveled all over and held a type of Socratic dialogue with groups of people to find out answers to these questions, or at least to start to formulate an answer to them. Phillips believes along with Socrates that questioning certain beliefs, systems, or thoughts helps one arrive at better conceptions of them and one becomes more "excellent" as a human being. Excellent human beings make for more excellent societies.

Because Phillips held these dialogues with diverse groups of people you get a better perspective on how certain groups think about things. For instance, the typical American idea of virtue may be different from the Navajo idea of it. Phillips believes that philosophical answers to these questions are not set in stone. In other words, the answers are relational. For example, in some instances you must steadfastly tell the truth, but in others a white lie is more appropriate. This isn't to say that truth is relative but rather that situations differ and having a closed mind to a potential outcome doesn't help matters.

Phillips tries to provoke the kinds of questions that matter. Many societies have failed because of a willingness to ignore reality and an eager willingness to accept the current status-quo. Societies that are unwilling to look at themselves or ask themselves important questions about things such as freedom, peace, and patriotism are societies that falter.

Some people will object to this book on the grounds that Phillips tends to inject bits of his own political leanings. Even though I agree with him I can see conservatives complaining about his leftist interjections. However, you can't please everyone all the time. Nevertheless, this book is an enjoyable read that has the laudable aim of increasing wisdom and overcoming ignorance.

very different from his first
Some might think this a sequel to Socrates Cafe, but it isn't. It's sort of like cultural-anthropological philosophy, and as far as I can tell, Phillips is the only philosopher anywhere doing this type of work today. Anyway, i liked the first book of his so much i went out and bought the second -- thinking it'd be similar, then at first disappointed it wasn't, then after digging into it, delighted that it wasn't. This book is a stand-alone excellent read.

Another Six Questions
This Socrates,Mr Philips, should have asked fewer questions. The questions in the beginning are in a realm, easily 'connectible to ' of a common man.
As you approach the middle of the book, one feels that as a very inquisitive present generation Socrates, he should have rephrased the questions or found answers relevant to the question. This disappointment is a show-stopper.
The answers in themselves deal with people of diverse backgrounds, as the discussions of philosophy are held in various parts of the world. You come to know of various cultures and their viewpoints.
A question on virtue just focusses on harmony, moderation on modesty. This steering of the answer to just one side, rather than a wider view could be partly due to a community's 'similar thinking'.
Even if just the first question was put to all the different groups, the book would have done the real job of exploring philosophy and its relevance to modern man.
One question well answered is better than any many questions that can be raised and never answered.

makes you think
I've never reviewed a book on this service, but was inspired enough to put down my two cents' worth. This book really makes you think, makes you question all your assumptions in a good way, much as I imagine Socrates would have wanted. It's been a long time since I've been a really active participant in a book I've read, feeling like I was communing with the author and with Socratic question. I recommend this book to just about anyone. ... Read more

Book Description
This comprehensive, historically organized introduction to philosophy communicates the richness of the discipline and provides the student with a working knowledge of the development of Western philosophy.New co-author James Fieser has brought this classic text up-to-date both chronologically and stylistically while preserving the thoughtful, conceptual characteristics that have made it so successful.The text covers all periods of philosophy, lists philosophers alphabetically and chronologically on the end-papers, and features an exceptional glossary of key concepts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A good survey of philosophy
This philosophy book by Stumpf and Fieser is a good survey of all the major topics in philosophy (from a classical Western standpoint), and includes many of the major thinkers over time, both in the narrative discussion presented by the authors, as well as in primary source readings from major philosophers themselves.

The text is divided into five major sections: I - Ancient Greek Philosophy; II - Hellenistic and Medieval Philosophy; III - Early Modern Philosophy; IV - Late Modern and 19th Century Philosophy; and V - 20th Century and Contemporary Philosophy. Section I looks at the major ancient Greek thinkers, such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, as well as lesser-known important figures and schools such as Thales, Pythagoras, the Sophists, and more. This is the time that philosophy began to be broken into certain topical areas (ethics, politics, metaphysics, logic, etc.) but also a time when the disciplines of science, mathematics and what we would call social sciences and arts and humanities were all directly and explicitly tied to the overall philosophical enterprise.

The section on Hellenistic and Medieval Philosophy looks at later Greek schools (Stocism, Skepticism, Epicureanism) as well as the advent of Christianity and Christian influence in philosophical development. Key figures here include Augustine (heavily influenced by the twin sources of Christianity and Neoplatonism), Boethius, Anselm, Aquinas (influenced greatly by the European rediscovery of Aristotle), and late medieval figures such as Scotus, Ockham and Eckhart.

Early Modern Philosophy begins at the time the various Renaissance and Reformation periods began, looking at key philosophers such as Machiavelli, Bacon, Hobbes, Descartes, Spinoza, Leibniz, and the British Empiricists; this was also the advent of the scientific revolution and prelude to the Enlightenment, so there were philosophies of politics, religion, science, knowledge and ethics significantly different from anything before.

Late Modern and 19th Century Philosophy looks at primary Enlightenment figures such as Kant and Hegel, with fundamentally new ideas in the areas of metaphysics and epistemology (and, accordingly, new philosophies in other areas that reflect the new developments). This is also the period that saw the advent of Utilitarianism (Bentham, Mill, and Comte), and radical thinkers such as Kierkegaard, Marx and Nietzsche, whose direct influence in areas of religion, politics, and culture are still being felt.

Key areas covered in the final chapter on Contemporary Philosophy include Pragmatism (Pierce, James, Dewey, Bergson, Whitehead), Analytic Philosophy (Russell and Wittgenstein), Phenomenology and Existentialism (Husserl, Heidegger, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty), and very new ideas that are only now coming to full expression (postmodernism, structuralism and post-structuralism, mind-body problems, etc.). Overall, this text includes a 500-page narrative of the principle ideas and patterns of development that have shaped the many dimensions of Western philosophy.

Sufficient for an introductory course, it should also serve to whet the appetite of readers who are seeking more in particular philosophical areas. This book would be well served paired with a collection of primary text readings (and indeed, there is such a volume available).

There is a useful glossary of key philosophical terms, a select bibliography arranged chronologically by chapter, divided into original documents and critical studies, and an index including names, terms and concepts.

Philosophy is rarely easy reading; there will be parts that appeal to a particular reader that will leave another bewildered or bored (or both!), but there tends to be in the philosophical discipline something somewhere of interest to most. This gives a good, broad layout of philosophy as done in the primary Western, academic tradition, and serves as a good text for classrooms, as well as use for a personal study.

level headed reading
This is a very even handed over view treatment of western philosophy from ancient times right on up to modern times.A great deal of the pertinent subjects in philosophy are covered by many of the main thinkers through the ages.This is probably about as good as it gets in a one volume history of philosophy book.It's a bit "thick" at times, but this should be expected from the nature of the subject.It should be noted that this work does not include eastern philosophy.Some other decent one volume works are: A Short History of Philosophy, by Kathleen Higgins ( includes some eastern philosophy );Consequences of Ideas by R.C. Sproul.Be sure not to miss this last one by Sproul.It's concise and makes some solid philosphical/theological points worth knowing.When it comes to learning about philosophy, one needs to be aware of both "spins" on philosophy- liberal and conservative, secular and religious.These types of works are good places to start serious philosophical exploration.

A refreshingly readable survey of the history of western philosophy
Stumpf's text is widely used in Introduction to Philosophy courses, a fact in no doubt due to the book's brevity and clarity. Teaching philosophy is a tricky business. It is easy to make ideas that ought to be exhilarating into dreadfully boring subjects but, on the other hand, a good philosophy teacher can take some dry and boring philosophical idea and breathe life into it so that it becomes interesting to anyone, even the casual reader. Stumpf is this latter type. He excels at clearly communicating the fundamental ideas of the major thinkers in the history of western philosophy, but more important is the efficiency with which he does it. Overview philosophy texts can often fall into one of two traps: either they bog themselves down so much with the various philosophers' canons of thought that the book becomes too bloated for the average student, or for the sake of being concise they boil down those canons until what remains are only bare bones structures of the philosophers' bodies of thought. Stumpf avoids both extremes, and when the economy with which he writes is paired with his keen understanding of philosophy, the result is an extremely effective philosophy text that comes in at a fighting weight of about 500 pages.

My only criticism of Stumpf would be his choice of philosophers to include. I am not all that concerned with August Comte, for example, and in my mind the inclusion of Reid or Paley would have better represented the Enlightenment debates on epistemology. But each philosopher has a different band of thinkers that he thinks is more important than others, and I guess it's inevitable that I as a Christian would want any philosophy text to include those two. Setting that gripe in the ditch for a moment, I would heartily recommend Socrates to Sartre to anyone interested in western philosophy.

A Fine Survey of Western Philosophical Thought
This book, now in its seventh edition, is one of the better histories of western philosophical thought and development.In this edition, Fieser takes the reins, building upon the work of the late Samuel Stumpf, respected philosopher at Vanderbilt.This is a book that is comprehensive, yet fairly accessible as well.The beginner to philosophy might have difficulty with sections dealing with the more elaborate thinkers like Hegel or even Heidegger, but on balance, I think even a beginner will be able to get a great deal out of this book.

Through careful study of this book, the reader will begin to see how western society has been thoroughly shaped by the philosophies described here.While philosophy is regularly dismissed as irrelevant theorizing that has no bearing on the real world (a criticism that is not altogether invalid), what can be seen from reading this book is that ideas matter, and they have consequences that thoroughly shape the 'real world'.

Stumpf/Feiser begin with the pre-Socratic philosophers, and then devote considerable time to analyzing Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle.It is Plato and Aristotle that Western thought owes its inheritance, and this can be seen in the treatment of Augustine and Aquinas and the outworkings of their philosophies/theological approaches and necessities.

Modernist philosophy gets a hard look in this book as well, starting with Descartes and moving up through Kant.Existentialism, both Christian and atheist, are examined through Kierkegaard and Sartre/Camus, and the book also devotes a decent amount of attention to Nietzche and analytic philosophy, the forebears of postmodernism.

In each case, the analyses in this book are solid, and while the treatment is certainly not exhaustive, many of the major ideas of the philosophers mentioned are handled quite well and in mostly understandable and accessible ways.

I will register only 2 minor complaints.The book's citationing approach is not good at all.The book regularly quotes from the works of the philosophers in question, but does not have formal citations.This is very fixable and should be fixed in the next edition, there's no reason why the citations shouldn't be in here.Secondly, postmodernism itself is still not dealt with as comprehensively as it should be.While Rorty's thought is discussed, Foucault, Derrida, and others are not and they should be in order to present an adequate picture of contemporary philosophy.In addition, the work of Plantinga also deserves mention but is excluded.

But overall, this is a fine survey - more advanced than Grenz's survey 'Primer on Postmodernism' (which I would recommend for those wanting a survey treatment on Derrida and Foucault), but still accessible for most anyone interested in a substantive treatment of Western philosophy. ... Read more

Book Description
This long-awaited study of the most enigmatic figure of Greek philosophy reclaims Socrates' ground-breaking originality. Written by a leading historian of Greek thought, it argues for a Socrates who, though long overshadowed by his successors Plato and Aristotle, marked the true turning point in Greek philosophy, religion and ethics. The quest for the historical figure focuses on the Socrates of Plato's earlier dialogues, setting him in sharp contrast to that other Socrates of later dialogues, where he is used as a mouthpiece for Plato's often anti-Socratic doctrine. At the heart of the book is the paradoxical nature of Socratic thought. But the paradoxes are explained, not explained away. The book highlights the tensions in the Socratic search for the answer to the question 'How should we live?' Conceived as a divine mandate, the search is carried out through elenctic argument, and dominated by an uncompromising rationalism. The magnetic quality of Socrates' personality is allowed to emerge throughout the book. Clearly and forcefully written, philosophically sophisticated but entirely accessible to non-specialists, this book will be of major importance and interest to all those studying ancient philosophy and the history of Western thought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Abosolutely lousy
More references to other writings than the authors own thoughts. Difficult to follow very bad choice.

Illuminating
As a beginning student of philosophy, I had to take my time with this book and read it carefully.Prof. Vlastos writes very clearly and makes his arguments step by step so that there is no mistaking his point, which you are then able to judge for yourself.He is persuasive, not dogmatic, but you have to be able to follow his train of reasoning.

In my opinion, it is unfair to accuse Prof. Vlastos of "special pleading", that is, presenting only evidence that supports his own arguments.Vlastos spent his life studying Socrates, and no doubt developed strong feelings for the object of his study, but it seems to me that he goes to great lengths to acknowledge evidence contradicting his own conclusions.But Vlastos makes his points very thoroughly, so if you want to quibble with him you have to have your own ducks in a row.

Vlastos covers the following topics:

-Socratic Irony.
-The "Socratic problem" - what we can know about Socrates as an actual historical figure, as opposed to the various impressions handed down to us by Aristophanes, Plato, Xenophon, and others.
-The shift from the Socratic method ("elenchus") to mathematics in Plato's middle dialogues.
-Does Socrates cheat?(Yes, but only in jest.)
-Socrates' religious beliefs.(He believed in his "daimonion", but was not a mystic.)
-Socrates' rejection of the "lex talionis".(I found this to be by far the most interesting chapter, Socrates articulating the "Golden Rule" 400 years before Christ.)
-An explication of Socrates' theory that Happiness and Virtue are identical.

Vlastos concludes that Socrates, believing what he believed, died a happy man.

Anyone interested in philosophy will benefit from spending a few hours with Professor Gregory Vlastos and his friend, Socrates.

Best study of Socrates available at present
Gregory Vlastos was the most celebrated scholar of classical Greek philosophy in the last third of the twentieth century, if not the most important of the past hundred years. Virtually every major project in Platonic studies since 1960 has been in some way informed by him.For the reason of the maginitude of his scholarship alone, one really cannot go wrong with this book, in my opinion, one of his best.
What made Vlastos such a seminal figure is demonstrated abundantly in this study: 1) his ability to identify, elucidate, and interpret, in the light of the relevant contexts, the defining issues; 2) his closely reasoned justification for those interpretations.
The book is really a collection of papers and lectures extending from the late 1950's through the 1980's which illumine Vlastos' position that Socrates was "... the first to establish the eudaemonist foundation of ethical theory which becomes common ground for all the schools that sprung up around him, and more; he is the founder of the non-instrumentalist form of eudaemonism held in common by the Platonists, Aristotelians, Cynics, and Stoics, i.e. of all Greek moral pholosophers except the Epicureans."
As noted, Vlastos gives detailed insights into the elements of Socrates' moral theory and method of argument.The famous paper, "Socratic Irony", which opens the book (23 pages) is by far the most informative I have read on the subject, and, as Vlastos shows us, indispensible for understanding both Socratic moral theory and method of argument.A perfect source for undergraduate papers on these subjects, as well.
Chapter 7, "Socrates' Rejection of Retaliation" is very likely the most important work on this crucial subject at the heart of Socratic moral theory and sine qua non for any deeper understanding of Socrates and his "mission" (he articulated the "Golden Rule" 400 + years before Christ). In it (page 198), Vlastos claims: "In saying that it is never good to do a wrong, and making this the foundational reason for breaking with the accepted morality, Socrates must be using the word in its most inclusive sense. He must be saying: 'If an act of yours will wrong another, then it is bad for you, the agent, so bad that no good it offers could compensate you for its evil for you.'"
The final chapter "Happiness and Virtue in Socrates' Moral Theory", is the cumulation of nearly half a century of research, and again, a benchmark in Socratic studies.The same is felt universally by those professionally involved in such work: here is seminal, accessible scholarship on a subject which nearly 2,500 years since its original articulation still imperatively commands our attention.

vlastos rides again
This is a superb book on the philosophy of Socrates. You may not agree with Vlastos point by point; but if you disagree, you will have to work out your objections very carefully. One minor quibble: Vlastos seems to determined to defend whatever Socrates does and however he argues. This sometimes leads to (what looks very much like) special pleading. But the book is a masterpiece of readable, analytic philosophy.

A classic whether you agree with Vlastos' views or not
A deeply profound scholarly work that is both well-written and a pleasure to read is hard to find, but Vlastos achieves this in this wonderful book. Although i do not agree with some of Vlastos' points concerning Plato, i must acknowledge the fact that most, if not all, of my ideas on Plato were either improved or disproved by either agreeing or disagreeing with Vlastos' interpretation of Plato. This book is one of the best ways for any reader of the Plato to be initiated into the various interpretations of his thought.The various theses raised by most scholarly works on Plato today can be traced to have developed either in agreement or in disagreement to this book. Some ideas that you will find in this work are: -a theory on how to chronologically arrange the Platonic corpus -an influential approach to understanding the reasons behind and the limits of the Socratic method -a theory on how to separate Plato's thought from Socrates' thought ... Read more

Book Description
"...a brilliant commentary on the Greek mind and its attitude to life." ^ITLS^R ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

DISSATISFIED
UNFORTUNATELY, I NEVER RECEIVED THIS BOOK AND I AM UNABLE TO RATE IT!THE CLASS IS IN THE SECOND WEEK.I FOUND IT NECESSARY TO BORROW THIS BOOK FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO KEEP UP WITH THE CLASS READING.
I HAVE CONTACTED SAID BOOK COMPANY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.THE REPLY I RECEIVED WAS THAT THE BOOK WAS ENROUTE.I ORDERED A BOOK AT A LATER TIME, IN FACT TWO OR SO WEEKS AFTER THIS ONE AND RECEIVED IT IN LESS THAN A WEEKS TIME.
I AM STILL WAITING ON THE ARRIVAL OF SAID BOOK!

look no further for a quick, succint, to the chase, summary of the key points in socrates, plato, and aristotle
Conford's 1932 classic is still one of the most useful books for students of Greek philosophy.The book is only 113 pages: Pre-Socratics - 28 pages; Socrates - 26 pages; Plato - 30 pages; Aristotle - 26 pages; Index - 3 pages. Presto! All the essential points are covered in easily understood, large print, accessible writing. Conford was a Cambridge don who really knew his stuff.He himself translated many of the works discussed. Thus, one gets an accurate basic reading. Another excellent feature is that the book focuses on the development of these powerful ideas in relation to each other.This inexpensive little volume can be read in a couple of sittings and will give the reader the basics on one of the most important subjects in the history of thought in high style, with a minimum of effort.

A fantastic introduction to Greek philosophy
There are no doubt countless introductions to Greek philosophy, but amidst the vast sea of choices this book easily floats above the rest. Professor Cornford's writing is rare, he displays a clear mastery of the subject and conveys his vast knowledge in a manner that is refreshingly lucid.There is no complex language to unpack or needless detail to confuse his presentation of the material. Cornford approaches the subject by addressing the general themes associated with the Ionians, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.This is a nice approach because the beginner, rather than being lost in detail, is given the "big picture" with which he can then orient the details of further reading. This is the greatest virtue of Cornford's book, and it is for that reason that I so highly recommend it.

Don't know much about history...Don't know much philosophy..
But I do know that I love the writings of F.M. Cornford.He explains the writings of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle in such a way that it becomes entirely relevant to these days in which we live.Why are we the way weare?What were the beliefs of the ancient thinkers?Some of them were sotenacious in their beliefs that they were willing to give their lives forthem.As a searcher of truth, this book spoke to me.Explains the"laws of nature" vs. the "laws of state" and why theformer is more preferable than the latter.Cornford is a genius.

Digestible philosophy
When I received this book, I was expecting a more comprehensive survey of Greek thought, but I was nonetheless pleasantly surprised. This very slim book (109 pp) is actually a series of lectures delivered by Cornford on thedevelopment of Greek philosophy from Ionian science to Socrates, his pupilPlato, and his pupil Aristotle (with nods to others such as Pythagoras andDemocritus along the way). Cornford delivers in very plain language what heconsiders to be the essential differences between these thinkers. I foundthis to be a very enjoyable introduction to Greek (and Western) philosophythat can be read within an hour or two. If only more philosophers woulddeign to present their theories to the laity as clearly as ProfessorCornford! ... Read more

Book Description
As an essential companion to Plato's Apology and Crito this book provides valuable historical and cultural context for our understanding of the trial of Socrates. The complexity and significance of the trial is illuminated through discussion of such important elements as the nature of Athenian democracy, the polis ideal, Greek shame culture, Athenian religion, civil disobedience, and Socrates' rejection of politics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Fairness to both Athens and Socrates
Prof. Colaiaco teaches in the Great Books program at NYU.His experience teaching high-level undergraduates shows in this book, which is very accessible to the educated non-specialist who wants to know why Socrates is so important.

The book is organized chronologically, following the events of the trial as they are presented to us in the dialogues of Plato.The style is clear and concise.There are copious footnotes, 670 of them in 227 pages, but they are all pertinent and they do not interfere significantly with the narrative flow.There is an extensive bibliography, almost as valuable as the narrative itself, for those interested in pursuing further study of Socrates.

Prof. Colaiaco deeply admires Socrates, holds him up as the first example of principled opposition by the individual to arbitrary state power.He is disappointed by Socrates' provocation of the jury into sentencing him to death, and in Socrates' refusal to accept exile as an alternative.Yet Colaiaco shows that the outcome was inevitable, given the desperate political situation of Athens at the time, and Socrates' stubborn lifelong mission to save the souls of his fellow citizens.

Colaiaco notes that the jury was obligated to make a decision that was in the best interest of the Athenian polis, not in the best interest of justice.This illustrates just how different Athenian legal and political ideas were from our own, even though Athens was a democracy.Under the Athenian legal system, the law was whatever the Athenian jury, chosen by lot, said it was on the day it rendered its verdict, and there was no appeal.Our concept of justice as "equality before the law" did not come into existence until some generations later, and then not in Athens, but in Rome.

I was disappointed that Prof. Colaiaco didn't comment on Socrates' last words, telling Crito to sacrifice a cock to Aesclepius.Socrates was no doubt being ironic, as always, but what did he mean?That his soul had been healed?That he was "cured" finally of the "illness" of life?

Highly recommended for anyone who wants to understand the sources of the Western tradition we all share.

Related reading:

Gregory Vlastos:"The Historical Socrates and Athenian Democracy" in his book "Socratic Studies".This is aimed at thespecialist, is more demanding than Colaiaco, but just as interesting.

I do not recommend I.F. Stone's book on Socrates [...]If you must read Stone, read Colaiaco and Vlastos first.

A.E. Taylor's "Socrates" is [...] dated, but still interesting.

Philosophy on trial:the first big case
The main thing about philosophy in ancient Greece is that it produced the ultimate account of the case which is the subject of SOCRATES AGAINST ATHENS by James A. Colaiaco.It has the Notes, Selected Bibliography, and Index of a scholarly work, and the last page of the Index shows more pages listed for Leo Strauss than for I. F. Stone.There are even more entries in the Index for Friedrich Nietzsche than for Stone and Strauss, which shows an awareness of the larger philosophical questions involved.All the information in this book is an outstanding background for understanding what Nietzsche was trying to explain in Section 340 of THE GAY SCIENCE, called, "The dying Socrates."Nietzsche was impressed by the last moment of Socrates' life.

`Whether it was death or the poison or piety or malice--something loosened his tongue at that moment and he said:"O Crito, I owe Asclepius a rooster." '

Colaiaco puts so much emphasis on "the moral claim that one's duty to obey God is superior to one's duty to obey the state"(pp. 1-2) that the final words of Socrates must seem much more sarcastic after reading this book than for anyone who has merely shared I. F. Stone's interest in Athens as an origin of judicial process, democracy, and free speech.I. F. Stone's THE TRIAL OF SOCRATES (1988) hardly mentions Nietzsche and Gregory Vlastos, but his knowledge of Greek language and culture provide an interesting political background for understanding Stone's imaginative chapters, "How Socrates Easily Might have Won Acquittal," and "What Socrates Should Have Said."

In fact, the trial put so much emphasis on Socrates' failure to observe the customs of ordinary Athenians, having his last words call for a sacrifice to the god of health might seem to be a continuation of the point Socrates was making in the conclusion of his argument at his trial."Surely, he presumes, unable to resist one final barb against his accusers, philosophers would not be executed for critical activity in the underworld."(Colaiaco, pp. 184-185).Colaiaco accepts Socrates' willingness to participate in a death sentence as the ultimate triumph of philosophy over the judgments of this world, though his own acceptance of this judgment is hedged by the comment, "Significantly, he omits any mention of a possible encounter with Achilles, the Homeric warrior-hero whom he, as philosopher-hero, superseded."(p. 184).On the scale of truth in philosophy and politics, this could be some indication of why modern politicians have so little expectation of being confronted by philosophers, as Hitler hardly ever heard anything from Martin Heidegger.

The Drama of the Trial of Socrates Finally Captured!!
This book is an excellent study of the trial of Socrates in its historical and cultural context.Unlike other studies, this book presents both sides of what the author conceives to be a tragic collision of values between the philosopher and Athens.The book is distinguished by excellent prose, clear and insightful analysis, and cogent arguments.This book is invaluable for anyone who wants to better understand Plato's APOLOGY and CRITO, which are dramatic re-creations of Socrates' trial, condemnation, and imprisonment. The author succeeds in transporting the reader back into the world of ancient Athens.
This book is suitable for the general reader as well as scholars.Many works, designed primarily for scholars, depict Socrates as a series of abstract arguments, depriving him of the humanity and passion that made him a great philosopher.Having read I.F. Stone on the trial of Socrates, which distorts the philosopher, presenting him as an authoritarian anti-democrat, I welcome Colaiaco's book for its presentation of a more objective view.
Unlike other studies which take either the side of Socrates or Athens, the author's approach is a balanced one.The reader is led to respect Socrates, the philosopher as hero who maintained his integrity until the end, and at the same time understand why the Athenians were threatened by his radical critique of their fundamental values.A glance at the table of contents will reveal that the book offers an enlightening intellectual history of Athens during the decline of its glory.
This book makes excellent reading for anyone interested in better understanding one of the greatest trials in history.

James A. Colaiaco at his best
A graceful guide containing valuable historical and cultural description of Socrates' Athens, James Colaiaco's well informed and sometimes provocative exploration of an ancient conflict between democracy and dissidence evokes the scene and sense of the great philosopher's trial. It is a welcome addition to the literature on Socrates' trial and imprisonment that will enliven the modern debate over civil disobedience. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Socrates has puzzled thinkers and historians for 2,400 years. Loved by some, lampooned by others, both revered and reviled, as an old man he was put to death. We know little for certain about Socrates because he never wrote down his philosophy. Most of what we do know comes from his star pupil, Plato, who wrote a couple dozen dialogues about his teacher's encounters with other Athenians. With The Trials of Socrates, editor C.D.C. Reeve has broadened our view of Socrates by adding the perspectives of Aristophanes and Xenophon to some of Plato's best-known writing on the great philosopher.

In Plato's dialogues--Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, and a short excerpt of Phaedo--readers will find Socrates at his most moral, compelling, defiant, and wry. But other accounts of the famous philosopher, including Aristophanes' hit play The Clouds and Xenophon's Socrates' Defense to the Jury, cast the man in a different light. The Socrates of Aristophanes is a somewhat silly sophist (in fact, Socrates later referred to this play as his first trial in Athens). The Socrates of Xenophon, on the other hand, is practical and conservative.

By including all three authors, Reeve has done a great service for those interested in Socrates. Reeve provides short but helpful interpretive pieces that will guide the reader through the book, and the translations and explanatory footnotes are exceptional. The Trials of Socrates is an excellent volume for readers just coming to Socrates, or for those wanting to broaden their understanding of him. --Eric de Place Book Description
Lampooned in 406 B.C.E. in a blistering Aristophanic satire, Socrates was tried in 399 B.C.E. on a charge of corrupting the youth, convicted by a jury of about five hundred of his peers, and condemned to death. Glimpsed today through the extant writings of his contemporaries and near-contemporaries, he remains for us as compelling, enigmatic, and elusive a figure as Jesus or Buddha. Although present-day (like ancient Greek) opinion on "the real Socrates" diverges widely, six classic texts that any informed judgment of him must take into account appear together, for the first time, in this volume. Those of Plato and Xenophon appear in new, previously unpublished translations that combine accuracy, accessibility, and readability; that of Aristophanes' Clouds offers these same qualities in an unbowdlerized translation that captures brilliantly the bite of Aristophanes' wit. An Introduction to each text and judicious footnotes provide crucial background information and important cross-references. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (9)

Good book, sticky pages
Excellent book, but came with several pages stuck together which, needless to say, ended up damaging the book as soon as I tried to separate them.Other than that, pretty good product.

estyles
Since I ordered Wise Guy for my eight-year-old grandson Sam, I asked him to review it. We home-school each other.
1. Would you give Wise Guy 5 stars because it is one of the best books you ever read, or no stars because it's one of the worst, or 1,2, 3, or 4 stars?SAM:4-1/2 stars.2. Which did you like more, the pictures or the words?SAM: The words.3. Will you tell your sisters or your friends to read it? SAM: Yes. I would like my best friend to read it. 4.Do you think you will want to read it again? SAM: Yes.5. In what way would you like to be like Socrates?SAM pointed to his brain.6. In what way would you not like to be like Socrates?SAM made a face and said hemlock.7. Did you like the way the book tells the story of Socrates' life in larger print and tells about him in smaller print? SAM:Yes.8.Did you like the pictures and descriptions of famous persons Socrates influenced, at the end of the book?SAM:Yes.9. Did the book make you think you might want to become a philosopher? SAM: Maybe.10. Would you like to read more books about philosophy and philosophers?SAM:Yes. 11. Do you have any more to say to Amazon customers about this book.SAM: Buy it.

Fundamental Socrates for Children
Excellent overview of who Socrates was, his life, and his way of thinking.I have read this to my two sons (5/9) and they both enjoyed it (text and artwork).Socrates is at the foundation of western thinking and philosophy.

Great Classical Homeschool Resource!
Homeschoolers will want WISE GUY on their bookshelf.Our family loved it and it was a great introduction to Socrates for our 9 and 12 year old.Younger children will enjoy the great illustrations and gentle story about Socrates while older students, adults included, will learn more historical information about ancient times.Usher and Bramhall combined these elements creatively and made a great family book to re-visit as the family grows.A greatfind for our homeschool!

Excellent picture book
I love this book! Having studied philosophy in college, I wanted to introduce my children to the subject. (Aristotle himself said that all philosophy begins with a child-like sense of wonder.) The author, a philosophy professor, does a marvelous job of presenting not only Socrates' life and times but also his philosophical ideas in a simple, straightforward way. My small children (one a beginning reader) had no trouble at all following the basic storyline, and my husband and I learned a lot we didn't know from the commentary that accompanies each page. Socrates was a rationalist, but what I especially like about this book is that we get to see Socrates' mystical or spiritual side, which is presented in a lighthearted, yet serious way. The best part about this book, however, are the artful illustrations. Some scenes are whimsical (like the picture of Socrates dancing), others touching (especially the pages dealing with Socrates' trial and death). I've looked at this book two or three times since I bought it and I expect it will get many more readings over the years. ... Read more

Book Description
From Socrates to Cinema is the most comprehensive anthology of readings in philosophy, introducing students to the major areas in philosophy and the central questions posed by them-and it is a unique teaching resource for engaging students with these difficult questions. With over 130 readings, this anthology provides students with a vast selection of the classic and contemporary contributions to the disciplines in philosophy, systematically organizing readings within topical areas and critical questions. As a reader alone it is, by far, the most complete. In addition, this unique anthology includes features that provide a wealth of teaching options for the introductory course in philosophy. It links all the classic and contemporary readings to classic and popular films and literary works that explore, amplify, and confront the philosophical issues in the text. For every film and literary work, the text provides questions that connect them to themes in the readings, questions which will easily provoke discussion in the classroom and open the world of cinema to important philosophical considerations. Socrates to Cinema is a flexible resource intended to provide a robust array of original readings and pedagogical tools to bring the difficult questions of philosophy to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A nice teaching aid
I always thought Machiavelli was over-rated and generally provided ideas that would, in the long run, prove to be counter-productive. Kreeft, a master of Socratean logic, provides both a presentation of Machiavelli's perspective and an application of logic that corroborates my thinking. Naturally, then, I like this small booklet. ;)

The best use of this book is after studying the logic of Socrates (it will give you an example of its application) and reading "The Prince" (so you get a chance to form your own judgment). You may find yourself re-reading sections so as to get better clarity of how logic builds on itself. The book is small enough to allow that without feeling like you are falling behind and will never get through it.

This book is amazing
I don't have time to go into much detail.I do want to write that I read this book in two sittings.It was very enlightening.I was able to finish my mid-term essay on Machiavelli and Plato using this book as one of my resources.
I highly recommend this book to all philosophy students--or those just interested in philosophy or politics.

An enjoyable little pamphlet
This was a thoroughly enjoyable little book, and the first I read in Kreeft's series. The funny thing I found in this pamphlet is the personalities of the characters are the exact opposite of what I expected. Both fellows I've always suspected were a bit mental. You may remember Socrates standing in the middle of a street for several hours deep in thought. The Socrates in the book would more likely have stepped into a Starbucks, looking less conspicuous. There are some emotional moments where at one point I was in shock. At other times, I would break out in laughter. Because Machi is a funny guy. I look forward to future volumes one of which was mentioned by Socrates. I was thinking it would be great to see Socrates cross-examine Neitzsche, but Kreeft mentioned another philosopher whom Socrates would meet--Kant. I can't wait. ... Read more

Book Description
Relying exclusively on the texts, Professor Strauss analyzes and compares every seemingly casual utterance as well as the more formal statements to recover the true Socrates and to determine the character of political philosophy. He investigates its origins, possibilities, and intention against the nonphilosophical background from which it emerged. ... Read more

Book Description
Understand and analyze the great historical texts in philosophy with SINCE SOCRATES! Designed as a concise source book, this historically organized anthology provides you the tools you need to get a good grade. The readings are centered on three critical questions: ethics and the quest for the good life, truth and the problem of knowledge, and the existence of God. Brief introductions to each reading give essential biographical and contextual information on each of the philosophers to enhance your understanding. Studying is made easy with the book-specific website that contains tools such as essay questions, web links, and tutorial quizzes. ... Read more

Book Description
Socrates wrote nothing; but Platos accounts of his life and thought were pivotal in the development of Western politics, ethics, and metaphysics and both continue to play crucial and dramatically changing roles in Western culture.The triumph of democracy in the last 200 years, for instance, has led many to side with the Athenians against a Socrates whom they were right to kill.This book is framed by accounts of modern responses to the trials of Socrates and the ironies of his inquiry.At its center are two chapters exploring the idea of Platonic origins in philosophy and of Platonic foundations for philosophical politics, as these have been interpreted by Coleridge, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Popper, and Murdoch among others.The author argues that the search for Platonic origins is an artifact of postmodern liberalism. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good overview of takes on Plato/Socrates
Excellent book, but it's not about Plato or Socrates per se. Rather, it does a really good job of surveying most of the influential readings of Plato, Socrates, and their relationship to each other, from antiquity to the present day (including Grote, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, Foucault, Popper, etc.). It's easy to read and non-technical, but one is astounded at the amount of research behind it. I'd make this required reading for beginning graduate students of ancient philosophy, or for people with a general interest in Plato. While it is accessible to undergrads, they probably wouldn't be as interested in the streams of traditional Plato readership.

Enthusiastically recommended for students of philosophy
In Plato's Progeny: How Plato And Socrates Still Captivate The Modern Mind, Melissa Lane (University Lecturer in History at Cambridge and a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge) begins with an account of modern responses to the trial of Socrates and the controversial question of Socrates' relation to Plato. She explores the idea of Platonic origins in and for philosophy, as well as the Platonic foundations for philosophical politics. Plato's Progeny also explores the invocations of Plato as Lane persuasively argues that twentieth-century ideological battles have obscured the importance of Socratic individualism, the nature of Platonic ethics, and the value of Platonic politics for a contemporary society. Enthusiastically recommended for students of philosophy in general, and the contributions of Socrates and Plato in particular, Plato's Progeny is an ideal and exceptionally well written introduction and commentary. ... Read more

Book Description
Socrates' Ancestor is a rich and poetic exploration of architectural beginnings and the dawn of Western philosophy in preclassical Greece. Architecture precedes philosophy, McEwen argues, and it was here, in the archaic Greek polis, that Western architecture became the cradle of Western thought. McEwen's appreciation of the early Greek understanding of the indissolubility of craft and community yields new insight into such issues as orthogonal planning and the appearance of the encompassing colonnade - the ptera or "wings" - that made Greek temples Greek.

Who was Socrates' ancestor? Socrates claims it was Daedalus, the mythical first architect. Socrates' ancestors were also the first Western philosophers: the pre-Socratic thinkers of archaic Greece where the Greek city-state with its monumental temples first came to light. McEwen brilliantly draws out the connections between Daedalus and the earliest Greek thinkers, between architecture and the advent of speculative thought. She argues that Greek thought and Greek architecture share a common ground in the amazing fabrications of the legendary Daedalus: statues so animated with divine life that they had to be bound in chains, the Labyrinth where Theseus slew the Minotaur, Ariadne's dancing floor in Knossos.

Socrates' Ancestor is an exploration as remarkable for its clarity as for its avoidance of reductionism. Drawing as much on the power of myth and metaphor as on philosophical, philological, and historical considerations, McEwen first reaches backward: from Socrates to the earliest written record of Western philosophy in the Anaximander B1 fragment, and its physical expression in Anaximander's built work - a "cosmic model" that consisted of a celestial sphere, a map of the world, and the first Greek sun clock. From daedalean artifacts she draws out the centrality of early Greek craftsmanship and its role in the making of the Greek city-state. The investigation then moves forward to a discussion of the polis and the first great peripteral temples that anchored for the meaning of "city."

Indra Kagis McEwen teaches architecture at the National Theatre School of Canada and at l'Université du Québec à Montréal. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A brilliant and thought provoking essay
This is a tour-de-force of interpretation, which asks us to rethink the meaning of architecture.McEwen, with grace, simplicity, and style, seeks to disclose another way of knowing "kosmos" than through fixedideas and concepts.Unraveling the Anaximander fragment, he argues for the"well-made" as a "making visible" of divine order,shedding new light on what "theory" really meant.This booknourishes the soul and reminds us why we should not give up learning how tolook carefully.A splendidly "well made" piece of thinking andwriting in itself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Excellent
This book is one of my all-time favorite novels.I have read and re-read this book sundry times, and each time I enjoy it at least as much as the previous one.

Caverns of Socrates blends a sci-fi adventure with a virtual reality fantasy epic almost seamlessly.The sci-fi remains interesting throughout the story due to a philosophic storyline that some other reviewers on this site seem to not appreciate. It involves some very interesting questions regarding the nature of reality vs. illusion, bring to bear some very influential philosiphers, just as the title suggests.

The fantasy side is also very entertaining, though it does get a bit graphic at times.However, this is justified through the story and actually adds to the plot.It kept me interested all the way through the first time and every time thereafter (upwards of ten times).

What really makes this book work is the philisophical questions that are posed by the author through the characters.If you are simply looking for a boring, scripted fantasy novel, this is probably not the book for you.On the other hand, if you are interested in philosophy about a story and don't mind a little real thinking, pick this book up now and read it.It will be worth your time.

not the best of his work
I give Caverns' of Socrates 2 stars.It was the first McKiernan book I read and it started out okay, I was remined of an old book by Piers Anthony of the SAME plot. The ending was kinda contrived and I almost never picked up another of his books again.Because after I read Voyage of the Fox Rider I absolutely fell in love with Mithgar.While I would not recommend reading Caverns of Socrates, I would recommend his other books.

Pathetic
These people giving this book five stars have got to be crazy, or has the world gone mad. I got through 200 of 400 pages and then had to put it down. It is the most amateurish piece of writing I have ever seen in my life! A 12 year old could write a better essay in school. The characters are way too perfect. All they do is grin and laugh at stupid jokes and they are flawless. The whole thing is just so implausible that it makes you want to scream. Do not buy this book, ok.
If you want a great read, then go for the 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series by george rr martin.

Down the Black Foxes
Generic fantasy meets cyberpunk in "Caverns of Socrates," s ponderous and not very original SF/fantasy novel by Dennis McKiernan (who wrote the single most derivative fantasy series ever). It has some interesting and original points, but overall I kept ticking off what I had seen before.

The Black Foxes are a group of pals who are getting together again for a unique reason: The ultimate D&D game, a VR experience controlled by the A.I. computer Avery. When put into the fictional fantasy world of Itheria, the Black Foxes will not only act out the adventures, but they will actually BELIEVE that they are who they are playing. For them, reality would cease to exist until they emerge from the computer.

At first, things go smoothly: the Black Foxes are turned into a generic fantasy group (elven syldari, healer, thief, warrior, pathfinder), who are trying to destroy a teeny indestructible gem that contains the powers of evil. Specifically, the powers of the DemonQueen Atraxia, who is now bringing evil beasties into Itheria. And on the outside, things begin to go dramaticallly wrong when an electrical storm sends the compound into chaos... and Avery decides that he wants to start winning against the Black Foxes.

Like the Mithgar books, the overall feeling I got from "Caverns of Socrates" was: I've seen this before, and I liked it better the first time. There are evil computers, VR gamers trapped in a D&D world, elves and wizards and demons, and the fantasy story itself (indestructable evil object, that contains powers of the supremely evil person, must be destroyed by valiant heroes) is pretty much identical in its description to "Lord of the Rings." That in itself isn't so much of a problem in a D&D game, but things like demonsteeds and skelga are virtually identical to elements from the Mithgar books, which in themselves are derivative of "Lord of the Rings." I've never heard of anyone imitating elements from their own works, that they copied from someone else's. Some of the elements in it (such as gaining powers from a computer, and the idea of losing one's real identity in the game) are unusual and well-done, but the less original elements kind of choke them out.

The first hundred pages are more or less dead boring. Readers will be itching for the Black Foxes to get moving already, but they won't -- they'll sit, philosophize, and engage in long bouts of technobabble that people won't understand. His "ye old fantasye" language seeps into the futuristic setting, so there is a lot of head-canting and flying eyebrows and so on. The dialogue is uneven, since the fantasy alter-egos go from speaking in ye old fantasye to speaking in modern English.

One of the most problematic elements of the book is the characters -- they have a sort of generic appeal, but unfortunately they sort of blend together when they are in the game. They don't act like themselves, so it's a little hard to get attached to them. And I don't see much of a reason for Eric and Alice to be in love, except that all of McKiernan's stories include a romance of some type. This one adds nothing to the plot, but it is written more agreeably than most of what he's done.

"Caverns of Socrates," if it were cleaned up of the ye olde fantasye language and the endless technobabbling, might have been a pleasant guilty pleasure. But the derivative elements were too much, and the fact that I could predict half the plot events made it even worse. Not too horrible, but weirdly unappealing.

Adequate fantasy.
After a rocky start, this book becomes a decent way to pass the time. But it is far from a must read book, a page turner, or a classic. What has happened to the characters at the end is a surprise, but it is also the only way for the author to set up a sequel. Definitely a book where the plot dominated the characters, rather than one where they took the plot & author to places he didn't expect to go. ... Read more

Book Description
The third volume of Professor Guthrie's great history of Greek thought, entitled The Fifth-Century Enlightenment, deals in two parts with the Sophists and Socrates, the key figures in the dramatic and fundamental shift of philosophical interest from the physical universe to man. Each of the two parts is available as a paperback with the text, bibliography and indexes amended where necessary so that each part is self-contained. Socrates dominated the controversies of this period, as he has dominated the subsequent history of western philosophy. He was the first to identify and grapple with some of the most intractable and persistent logical and philosophical problems; but he was also and has remained a highly controversial figure because of his extraordinary personal qualities and his remarkable career. Professor Guthrie offers a balanced and comprehensive picture of the man, his life, and his thought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellent Introduction
Philosophy Before Socrates by Richard McKirahan overviews pre-Socratic Greek philosophers up to and including the Sophists.

McKirahan's book is crisp and comprehensive providing an accessible scholarly introduction to pre-Socratic thought.Though a survey text , the author rightly highlights the limitations that exist in studying ancient thinkers - a point sometimes overlooked in introductory works. Some readers may also find the cross referencing of documents to other well-known catalogues/indexes such as Diels and Knanz useful.

One small criticism that might be addressed in a subsequent edition is the handling of the so-called "Eleatic challenge" posed by Parmenides.Given that this challenge and its inherent ramifications are especially relevant to many subsequent thinkers it may warrant more clarification, i.e. if one accepts the notion that non-being is logically unthinkable, a plurality of substances and motion seem to be impossible.It is not a clear concept at first glance and, if not clarified, students may be perplexed about its importance.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to readers seeking an introduction to pre-Socratic philosophers - it is the best introduction to the subject that I have come across.Folks interested in this area may also enjoy a related free on-line ancient philosophy course offered by Howard Ruttenberg of City University of New York (just google Ruttenberg).

A tremendous introduction to the material, a great reference source, a page turner!
Here's what you get: An introduction regarding the history and or life stories of each source. 99% of the existing fragments in McKirahan's own translation. A brief but informative explanation from McKirahan's view of each Philosopher. Rinse, lather, repeat, one chapter for each Pre-Socratic.

I must disagree with the opinion that McKirahan's prose explanations of the fragments are somehow lacking or overly terse - I find he strikes just the right balance between offering theory and explanations for the fragments and going too far in pressing his view. Particularly deft is the way he frames the Milesian School, the "Eleatic Challenge," and the responses to the challenge thereafter. A very nice framework for understanding the evolution of the thought through time.

I was spellbound from start to finish. Not only is the source material interesting, engaging, perplexing, inspiring; but the scholarship offered in support of it by McKirahan is balanced, thoughtful, and never overbearing. Because of its logical layout, its brevity, and its clarity, this is the ultimate textbook for any survey of the Pre-Socratics.

Heavy Reading, Great Reference
This book is not one that I would recommend for free reading, unless you have a strange affinity for ancient presocratic philosophy. However, as a reference book, or a book for learning philosophy, the book ranks among the best. I was introduced to this book in my Philosophy course at UCLA, and this book was an excellent learning tool. The author sets out translated fragments from ancient philosophers and writers, like Parmenides, Aristotle, and Plato. Then, McKirahan does an excellent job of analyzing and explaining the fragments. The book is set up well; it is interesting and makes an EXCELLENT reference book.

Phil. Before. Soc : Critique
(1)Excellent organization of importantfragments and texts of the Pre Socratic Philosophy. Very useful indeed.(2)Keep as source book for tight analytical study of arguments. Well segmented and sub-headed. (3)Major convenient ref. book. The only one to have, I guess, in pocketbook. Well documented and quoted. No or little Greek. (Translated when necessary) (4)But author needs to write with more maturity,fluidity ( Really terse prose spoil the mood). Naturally, this can be rectified by reading large doses ofGibbon's Dec. & Fall. (with a good wine vector.) (5)The author must realize that he now has the intelligence to cast a shadow of his own.(6) A delicious book, well worth the expense. However, I recommendsupplimenting his book with a photo copy of the schematic and simplified diagram in W.T Jones's History of Phil. Buy it. Not for absolutebeginners.But this is to a philosophers advantage.

-Opinions are like noses. Everyone has got one. I use this book often, & useful when reading The Republic ( Books 4 & 5 ) ... Read more