The Socrates Meets Marx: The Father of Philosophy Cross-Examines the Founder of Communism [Paperback]

Peter Kreeft (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003 | ISBN-10: 0898709709 | ISBN-13: 978-0898709704

Utilizing the dialogue format that the Greek philosopher made famous, Kreeft presents the latest in his series of small books on philosophy. In a unique and compelling take on the philosophies of the modern world, Kreeft pits the ancient Greek philosopher against the founder of Communism. Humorous, frank, and insightful, this book challenges the reader to step in and take hold of what is right and to cast away what is wrong. Topics covered include such varied subjects as private property, the individual, the “Three Philosophies of Man”, women, individualism, and more. A wonderful introduction to philosophy for the neophyte, and a joy for the experienced student.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Ignatius Press (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898709709
• ISBN-13: 978-0898709704
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Peter J. Kreeft (Ph.D., Fordham University) is professor of philosophy at Boston College where he has taught since 1965. A popular lecturer, he has also taught at many other colleges, seminaries and educational institutions in the eastern United States. Kreeft has written more than sixty-seven books, including The Best Things in Life, Christianity for Modern Pagans, Fundamentals of the Faith and The Handbook of Christian Apologetics.

Dr. Kreeft's MP3 audio lectures can be purchased on Amazon, such as
"Christianity in Lord of the Rings".

Free articles, audio lectures, the speaking schedule and more info from Dr. Peter Kreeft can be found at his popular web site:
http://www.peterkreeft.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marx Meets His Match, October 30, 2003

By 

William Muehlenberg (Melbourne Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Socrates Meets Marx: The Father of Philosophy Cross-Examines the Founder of Communism (Paperback)

Peter Kreeft is professional philosopher, a prolific author, and an avid Christian apologist. He has written a number of books using the Socratic method of dialogue and questioning to stimulate thought, correct fuzzy thinking, and challenge our unexamined presuppositions.

He is now in the midst of a new series of volumes, entitled Socrates Meets.... The series is designed to help introduce the reader to the major thinkers and their writings. In this book we have Kreeft (via Socrates) analyse and dissect The Communist Manifesto.

This book, of course, belongs to that group of books which almost everyone knows about but very few people have actually read. Works by Darwin and Freud could also be mentioned (and one suspects that Kreeft has these authors in the pipeline as well).

So it is quite important that someone who actually knows these Great Books quite well can make them accessible and understandable to the average layperson. These volumes do a very good job of distilling the contents and ideas of the Great Books, making them easy to understand and digest. The format of a debate or dialogue between Socrates and his antagonist makes for enjoyable and illuminating reading.

Indeed, the format makes the book fun while helping the reader discover discerning and penetrating insights into the subject of the debate. By uniting a Christian worldview with the probing Socratic method, Kreeft is able to clarify an opponent's position, and point out the inconsistencies and fallacies therein. He is then in a position to show the superior claims of the Judeo-Christian position, over against that found in their works.

This volume applies solid logic and the timeless truths of the Judeo-Christian tradition to one of the most influential of modern thinkers. It makes for a great introduction to this thinker, as well as an incisive critique of his thoughts. One can only look forward to future volumes in this excellent series.

28 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Karl's Glaring Mistake..., June 2, 2003

By 

Bruce Ware (Woodbridge, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Socrates Meets Marx: The Father of Philosophy Cross-Examines the Founder of Communism (Paperback)

After having approached the economic arguments against socialism (and its subordinate -isms like Marx-, Commun-, Naz-, Lenin-, Mao-, etc.) from the perspectives of Adam Smith, Ludwig von Mises, Thomas Sowell, and most especially Friedrich Hayek, it didn't take much to be convinced that Marx was, well, just plain wrong. We have the empirical evidence of something like 80 years of actual practice to point to, to assess, and from which to draw conclusions.

Not until I read Prof. Kreeft's work did I come to comprehend the more important question: *why Marx was wrong*. Socialism was not just hampered by a flawed execution ("everyone" says that Russia should not have been the first nation to try socialism), but fundamentally crippled by a flawed premise. And thereby fated to fail.

I won't give the lesson away - you'll enjoy getting there yourself. I will say, though, that if Marx had been right, our world would be a much more horrifying place than any Matrix-like "Dis-topia" that Hollywood could contrive.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Philosophers Gone Wild, July 25, 2011

By 

Elliot Malach "The Unknown Surfer" (Galveston, Tx) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Socrates Meets Marx (Kindle Edition)

The book takes place in the afterlife. Socrates greets Karl Marx as he crosses over, and they enter into a philosophical discussion about life and Marx's "The Communist Manifesto."

I loved the format - it not only gave the basis, interpretation and analysis of The Communist Manifesto but was humorous and entertaining. There were many quick-witted, sarcastic exchanges where they look disdainfully at each other's positions. My favorite was Marx telling Socrates he spends as much time thinking about thinking as he does actually thinking.

This is a great way to understand the basics of Socrates and Marx's ways of thinking without having to go through the drudgery of reading some long, incomprehensible, boring book. You get the significant philosophical contrasts of Marx and Socrates in a simple, understandable format. It's a modern day Cliff's Notes.