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Philosophy 101 by Socrates: An Introduction to Philosophy Via Plato's Apology

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I became familiar with Kreeft's work when I read his _A Refutation of Moral Relativism_; checked it out from my local library and held on to it for several weeks, reading it front-to-back several times.

Prof. Kreeft uses 40 "tags" to introduce key precepts of philosophy - the love of (the search for) wisdom - and illustrates those tags with excerpts from Plato's "Apology".

Cleanly written, easily comprehensible, and enjoyable, I can't wait to get my hands on more of Dr. Kreeft's work (I have a few items of his in my cart already!).

With a few more works like this, we ought to be able to reverse two centuries of reductionism and relativism disguised as "Enlightenment" and fight the new generation of Sophists back into their caves.

As a popular writer who is also a populist writer, Kreeft is brilliant. This book is a delightful beginner's guide to one of the most important philosophical documents ever written. As a professor, and philosopher, and PhD--I am always looking for books that introduce the Great Books to students. Dr. Kreeft has written these helpful guides (4 now) to the Great Books. So if anyone out there is still reading and if anyone is still reading the Great Books, let Dr. Kreeft be of some help.

Peter Kreeft has taught philosophy for over forty years. He is also a Christian. So what does philosophy have to do with Christianity? Or as Tertullian put it long ago, what does Athens have to do with Jerusalem?

Well quite a bit really, according to Kreeft. For example, both are, or should be, concerned with truth, or the discovery of truth. Both are concerned about going beyond appearances and getting at reality.

Thus Kreeft thinks philosophy, properly understood and practiced, can be a real aid to the believer. This book is an introductory primer to philosophy, or more specifically, to doing philosophy. Kreeft thinks that Plato/Socrates may have been our greatest philosopher, and his works make for an excellent entry point to philosophy. (Kreeft side-steps the historical debate over Socrates, and for his/our purposes, we will simply speak of Socrates.)

Three dialogues that exemplify Socrates' method and manner are here focused on: the Apology of Socrates, the Euthyphro, and the Phaedo. Kreeft enjoys using these dialogues as they do not just talk about philosophy but they actually show us philosophy in action.

The Apology is the main text focused on. In it Kreeft tells us forty different things about philosophy and the philosophical method. As we all know, philosophy is the love of wisdom. It differs from mere knowledge, and God is its source. While God has wisdom, man pursues it. In this Socrates and biblical religion are on common ground.

Moreover, the quest of philosophy is not for truth as found in the physical sciences, but moral and eternal truths, as found in religion. Moral questions, like "What is justice?" cannot be answered by the physical sciences.

Also, belief in God and the really important things in life goes hand in hand with humility. Socrates stressed this, as do many of the great religions. Skepticism about God tends to correlate with pride, while true wisdom recognizes its limits, and is open to truth outside its limited perceptions.

And Socrates, like Jesus, was a real counter-culturalist. Indeed, both men were hated by many because of their challenges to the status quo. Indeed, both were ultimately put to death.

Of course in all this Kreeft does not equate the two great men. Socrates could only claim to be a seeker after truth, while Jesus claimed to be the truth.

A key issue raised in the Euthyphro is the connection between God and goodness. Can we be good without God? The two options presented are, 1) that God chooses what is good (Euthyphro's position), and 2) that God is subject to what is good (Socrates' position). Of course Christians tend to say that this is a false dilemma, and argue for a third position, that God's goodness is coterminous with his nature. Position one seems to make God arbitrary, and position two seems to make goodness greater than God. But the third option fully equates goodness with God. What God commands is good because it is in accord with his own good nature.

The last work examined, the Phaedo, is the story of the death of Socrates. It is also the argument of Socrates for why life extends beyond the grave, for why the soul is immortal.

The "gadfly of Athens" was put to death for his search for truth. Of course Jesus was put to death for his proclamation of truth. To refer to the earlier discussion about historicity, Kreeft reminds us that while Christianity cannot survive without Christ, philosophy can survive without an historical Socrates. Even if he is just the creation of Plato's pen, his timeless truths live on.

It was Alfred North Whitehead who once said that the European philosophical tradition "consists of a series of footnotes to Plato." No one can improve upon the greatness of Plato/Socrates. His greatness and wisdom live on. Thus there is so much we can learn from Socrates, so much we are indebted to.

He is not the equivalent of Christ, but he bears many similarities, as Kreeft points out throughout this book. And there are real shortcomings to Socrates. His insistence on the importance of the soul was as valuable as his denial of the importance of the body was flawed.

Believers need not be ashamed of nor afraid of philosophy. In its proper form, it leads us to truth. And in the Christian tradition, God is truth. Of course in a fallen world, extrnal revelation is needed to supplement internal inquiry.

But is it possible that God can use pre-Christians like Socrates to teach us much about life and even Himself? Kreeft thinks so, and this book goes a long way in showing Christians how to appreciate the beauties of philosophy. Of course in other books in this series, Kreeft shows the dark side of reckless philosophy (as in his discussions about Sartre and Marx). But here we learn of the good purposes which philosophy can serve.

Peter Kreeft transmits his passion for wisdom, for philosophy, in this small book by focusing on the personification of philosophy: Socrates. Kreeft shows us how the pursuit of wisdom will lead to respectful confrontation with those who do not know but think they know. The Socratic method of respectful cross-examination is at the core of exposing the fallacies of those, as someone once said, who are always certain but seldom right. Kreeft also presents the parallels between Socrates and Jesus. You will enjoy and be inspired by this celebration of the passionate pursuit of philosophy.

Peter Kreeft introduces Philosophy by introducing us to the father of philosophy, Socrates. He uses the Apology of Socrates to give 40 descriptions of philosophy. He shows the paradox of philosophy with such terms as foolish, simplistic and conformist. Throughout the book, Kreeft's Christian perspective comes through with comparisons of Socrates and Christ, which I think give the book a unique niche but I sure will offend some.

Kreeft's book is an excellent philosophy primer that anyone can enjoy, easily read, and benefit from. As a huge fan of Socrates, I was enthralled with the use of Plato's "Apology", the "Euthyphro", and the "Phaedo" as a teaching tools that will captivate your imagination and search your soul. You can really feel Socrates probing you, making you ask questions of and about yourself, profound questions, that everyone needs to confront and be confronted by. Everyone should apply the Socratic Method to their own life...it will change it forever!

This book is an easy read and you should purchase a copy, take it with you everywhere, and read every chance you get. When you finish, READ IT AGAIN!!! Let Socrates teach you that what you think you know, you really don't know. The unexamined life is truly not worth living. Let Socrates examine you and then you too will live life more fully...by asking good questions about everything. Take nothing for granted or on surface value; probe, probe, probe!

This book would be a great tool for informal chats re philosophy, psychology, religion, or even just for fun. I highly recommend it...no matter your chosen faith or the lack thereof. But get ready to be challenged!

This book combines philosophy and christianity perfectly. I higly reccommend it as a teaching tool or enjoyment reading.

I got introduced to a man. He cuts hard stones, and harder minds.

He asked me: Is life worthful without self examination?

He assured me: No evil can happen to a good man, either living or dead (unless in mind, I let it happen).

He also asked me: If I apologise just to save my life, but against my consciousness, am I not already dead? (And He chose to die without apologizing).

He refused to escape when prison keys were arranged for him.

When He counter questioned my every question.... I met myself! He is Socrates, who is introduced to me by Peter Kreeft.

In my calendar, the time is distinguished between BS (Before Socrates) and AS (After Socrates). And Jesus was born 399 AS.

(Peter Kreeft's another book "When Socrates Meets Machiavelli" is mediocre).

Dr. Peter Kreeft has done it again. This book is yummy! If you are not a philosopher, you will get so much from this book. If you are--have fun with it. I have a great many of Dr. Kreeft's books in which Socrates plays a principle part, and because I love logic, I find each book informative and entertaining. I recommend Dr. Kreeft's work. It is readable, easy to understand, and very informative.