Symposium and The Death of Socrates (Classics of World Literature) - Softcover

Plato

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1853264792 ISBN 13: 9781853264795

Publisher: Wordsworth Editions, 1997

Synopsis

With an Introduction by Jane O'Grady. Translated by Tom Griffith.

In Symposium, a group of Athenian aristocrats attend a party and talk about love, until the drunken Alcibiades bursts in and decides to discuss Socrates instead. Symposium gives an unsurpassed picture of the sparkling society that was Athens at the height of her empire.

The setting of the other dialogues is more sombre. Socrates is put on trial for impiety, and sentenced to death. Euthyphro discusses the nature of piety, Apology is Socrates' speech in his own defence, Crito explains his refusal to escape punishment, and Phaedo gives an account of Socrates' last day.

These dialogues have never been offered in one volume before. Tom Griffith's Symposium has been described as 'possibly the finest translation of any Platonic dialogue'. All the other translations are new.

About this title

Synopsis

In "Symposium", a group of Anthenian aristocrats attend a party held by Agathon to celebrate his victory in the drama festival of the Dionysia. They talk about love until the drunken Alcibiades bursts in, and decides to talk about Socrates instead. "Symposium" gives a picture of the sparkling society that was Athens at the height of her empire. The other three dialogues in this collection - "Apology", "Crito" and "Phaedo" - are more sombre. The Athenians, catastrophically defeated in war, have lost their self-confidence and their ability to tolerate what they do not understand. Socrates is put on trial for impiety, found guilty and put to death. "Apology" is Socrates's speech in his own defence at his trial. "Crito" explains his refusal to escape when escape could be easily arranged. "Phaedo" gives an account of Socrates's last day. He and his friends discuss the nature and immortality of the soul until the sun sets and Socrates drinks the hemlock which has been prepared for him.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wordsworth Editions
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1853264792
• ISBN 13: 9781853264795
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240