The Memorable Thoughts of Socrates [Paperback]

Xenophon (Author), Henry Morley (Editor), Edward Bysshe (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 2010

An Unabridged Printing Of Edward Bysshe's Translation, Edited By Henry Morley, To Include All Four Books

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Xenophon (430 - 354 BCE), was a soldier, mercenary, and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates. He is known for his writings on the history of his own times, the 4th century BC, preserving the sayings of Socrates, and the life of ancient Greece. With a number of existing writings, Xenophon is noted for his accounts of life in Greece, both in ancient times and during the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. Formally a young student of Socrates, he would later record a number of Socratic dialogues as well as personal accounts of Socrates, whom he admired greatly. As a young adult, Xenophon informally served in the army under the Persian prince Cyrus the Younger, helping to lead his contingent over land back to the Black Sea after Cyrus' death in battle. His account of this journey, recorded in his Anabasis, is read in academia today. Later joining the Spartan army, Xenophon, not at all a nationalist, was exiled from Athens after fighting against them in their war with Sparta. Eventually settling in Scillus in southern Greece, Xenophon began a long trajectory of writing-historical tracts, generalized works of instruction, essays on the military, politics and economics, as well as the Socratic works. These works were both a recording of some of Socrates' dialogues, as well as a general history of Socrates' methods of teaching. Though Xenophon's Socratic tracts are largely disregarded, Xenophon's Memorabilia is often referenced as an account of Socrates' religious views. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Watchmaker Publishing (April 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603863206
• ISBN-13: 978-1603863209
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Ancient > Greece

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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Look at Socrates, March 11, 2011

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Dr. Bojan Tunguz (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Memorable Thoughts of Socrates (Kindle Edition)

Socrates is one of the most significant of the classic Greek philosophers, and in many respects he is justly considered to be the father of western philosophy. This high esteem in which he is held comes primarily from the works of Plato, the most important of all of Socrates' followers and disciples, and a giant of philosophy in his own right. Socrates never set out to write down any of his own ideas and thoughts, instead devoting all of his philosophical activity to public lectures and discussions. These discussions in particular have left a memorable impression on Socrates' followers. Plato has immortalized them in his writing, and all of the reasoning that he employed was in form of these "Socratic dialogues." Nonetheless, it is never entirely clear how much of the words that Plato attributed to Socrates were really his own, and to what extent did Plato use a figure of Socrates as a narrative and polemical device. As already mentioned, Socrates never wrote anything himself, and there are only a few other contemporary sources that strove to record any of his pronouncements or ideas. In that regard, "Memorable Thoughts of Socrates" by Xenophon is an invaluable source of information.

Xenophon was a soldier, mercenary and historian, and a contemporary and admirer of Socrates. "Memorable Thoughts of Socrates" was motivated in part with the desire to clear Socrates' name after his very famous death and trial. Xenophon wanted to set the record straight, and by example of Socrates' own words demonstrate that contrary to the charges that were brought against him, Socrates was in fact a strong positive moral force in the civic life of Athens. The book is built up out of various dialogues that Socrates engaged in, and the reader familiar with Plato's writings will immediately recognize the characteristic patter of back-and-forth argument. This lands added credibility to Plato's own accounts, especially since the "thoughts" that are presented here seem to be more or less the same ones that are presented in Plato's accounts, albeit they tend to be somewhat less sophisticated and not as exhaustive in their analysis as those in Plato's works. Socrates concerns involve the proper understanding of basic ethical ideas, the limits of knowledge, the relation of individuals in a society to each other and to the state, etc. Xenophon's Socrates also comes across as a more lively and relatable figure, and not so much as an ideal abstract interlocutor. Some of the Socrates' thoughts are in fact sayings and proverbs, not unlike those of, say, Confucius. In this respect "Memorable Thoughts of Socrates" could be viewed as a form of "wisdom literature," although it is definitely much more than that. It is definitely a very insightful book that will be of interest to anyone interested in the history of ideas.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Other Side., September 8, 2011

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Sci Fi Fan - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Memorable Thoughts of Socrates (Kindle Edition)

Socrates is considered by many people, to be the originator from which all modern philosophical thought is derived, in one form or another. Plato's famous Dialogues, are on many a required reading list, in the majority of the thinking class. However, it has been known for a long time, that Plato inserted his own ideas into "his" portrayal of Socrates, while still retaining some of Socratic thought. This is the alternative to Plato, an entirely serious and genuine portrait of the man, so admired by all the world. Xenophon was a historian and philosopher, who wrote this book to prove to the people of Greece, that Socrates was a positive force towards their lives. It is very rare that you can find the print version of this book. It is free here and needed by those, who enjoy Greek philosophy and history.

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not a bad read, downloaded for free on Kindle PC, October 11, 2011

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Indiana Customer - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Memorable Thoughts of Socrates (Kindle Edition)

this isnt bad at all, though to be fair Socrates never wrote down his own thoughts, we have to take these interpretations with a grain of salt even if they are educated estimates.