The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro; The Apology; Crito; Phaedo (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Plato (Author), Harold Tarrant (Editor, Introduction), Hugh Tredennick (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 014044582X | ISBN-13: 978-0140445824 | Publication Date: December 1, 1993

Socrates spent a lifetime analyzing ethical issues, and the "Euthyphro" finds him outside the court-house, still debating the nature of piety with an arrogant acquaintance. "The Apology" is both a robust rebuttal to the charges of impiety and corrupting young minds and a definitive defence of the philosopher's life. Later, condemned and imprisoned in the "Crito", Socrates counters the arguments of friends urging him to escape. And finally, in the "Phaedo", Plato shows him calmly confident in the face of death, skilfully arguing the case for the immortality of the soul. Such works, as Harold Tarrant explains in his introduction to this revised edition, are no longer regarded by scholars as direct transcriptions of real events.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Greek

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (December 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014044582X
• ISBN-13: 978-0140445824
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,369 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Philosophical Questions That Are Still Relevant Today, January 23, 2003

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Matthew P. Arsenault (SW Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro; The Apology; Crito; Phaedo (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

As Socrates abstained from recording his philosophies, we must thank Plato for having the insight to preserve Socratic thoughts for posterity. As a student of Socrates, it seems that Plato, through his own writings, attempts to preserve the memory of his well respected teacher.
In The Last Days of Socrates, Plato begins with Euthyphro and we see the Socratic method in action. Socrates and Euthyphro discuss the nature of piety, and through a serious of thought provoking questions, Socrates argues for what he feels is the proper relationship between Man and God.
Next, Plato discusses the trial of Socrates by the Athenian aristocracy. Again, we see Socrates using his rhetorical skills in illustrating the hypocrisy and prejudice pervading throughout the Athenian government. Socrates discusses what role a good citizen should play in government. He announces his being a "gadfly" on the hide of the establishment, and we also find Socrates exposing his own intelligence by claiming that he, in fact, knows very little. The Apology is by far my personal favorite section of the book.
After Socrates conviction, we find him discussing the morality of obeying or breaking laws in Crito. He meets with one of his close friends and the two discuss Socrates' options in regard to his death sentence. Here we see Socrates espouse the belief that it is acceptable to break an unjust law, however, one must also accept the consequences for breaking said law in order to preserve the stability of society.
The Last Days of Socrates tackles many complex issues which are as relevant today as they were when first committed to paper in the 4th century B.C. This should be standard reading for any introductory course in political theory, and a must have for anyone interested in philosophy or ethics.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of those desert isle books, December 2, 2001

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C. Sellers "oncogenic" (belton, tx United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro; The Apology; Crito; Phaedo (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

I will not presume to analyze this, and leave that to the experts deep into the facets of philosophy. I will say that this book is excellently written by Plato, using many technically interesting devices, conversations, soliloquys and conversations inside conversations each one expertly serving its purpose. In this thin tome you can find the roots of the scientific method, modern philosophy, method of inquiry, arguements of law, political thought, fundamentals of christian thought and belief, basis of thought that will guide the inquiry into the nature of the universe itself, from physical position of the planets in the heavens to the theory of relativity. It is impossible to estimate the importance of this work on the history of human thought. Plato succeeds expertly in providing Socrates scorn of the shifting state of human reasons, his Socratic method, his personal life, his public life and his rare and enduring example of bravery. A truly amazing book, that really requires studying over simply reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A decent anthology., December 3, 2004

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Jon Torodash (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Last Days of Socrates: Euthyphro; The Apology; Crito; Phaedo (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This is the kind of text used in those bread & butter Western civ. or survey philosophy courses. The translation is fine, but not particularly critical, literal, interpretive, or anything you can associate with a particular goal on translating. It's just the text. Maybe we could call it "pragmatic."

The notes are very nicely done, comfortably introducing the reader to a lot of important background concerning ancient Greek philosophy and the culture(s) which spawned it. I think this is a fine book for becoming acquainted with Plato and generating interest for further study.

What really to say about the content that other reviewers haven't already mentioned? The four books take us from outside the courthouse all the way through a post mortem wrap-up between the interlocutors. Justice, integrity, immortality of the soul, the afterlife... All of philosophy is just footnotes to this guy, after all.