Apologizing for Socrates: How Plato and Xenophon Created Our Socrates

Gabriel Danzig

doi:10.5771/9780739132463

Summary

Apologizing for Socrates examines some of Plato's and Xenophon's Socratic writings, specifically those that address well-known controversiese concerning the life and death of Socrates. Gabriel Danzig argues that the effort to defend Socrates from a variety of contemporary charges helps explain some of the central philosophical arguments and literary features that appear in these works. Concentrating on the two Apologies, Crito, Euthyphro, Xenophon's Symposium and Memorabilia, Lysis, and Oeconommicus, Danzig argues that the apologetic efforts were essential for rebuilding the community of Socratic friends and companions, which was devastated by the trial and death of Socrates. The Socratic writings are not merely literary or philosophical endeavors, but also political acts of great competence.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2012
Copyright Year: 2012
ISBN-Print: 978-0-7391-3244-9
ISBN-Online: 978-0-7391-3246-3
Publisher: Lexington, Lanham
Language: English
Pages: 280
Product Type: Monograph

1. Table of Contents No access
Introduction No access Pages 1 - 14
Acknowledgments No access Pages 15 - 18
Chapter One:Plato and Xenophon on Socrates' Behavior in Court ( Be Apologies) No access Pages 19 - 68
Chapter Two:Building a Community under Fire (Crito) No access Pages 69 - 114
Chapter Three: Disgracing Meletus (Euthyphro) No access Pages 115 - 150
Chapter Four: Xenophon's Socratic Seductions (Memorabilia) No access Pages 151 - 200
Chapter Five: Plato's Socratic Seductions (Lysis) No access Pages 201 - 238
Chapter Six: Why Socrates Was Not a Farmer: Xenophon's Apology for Socrates in Oeconomicus No access Pages 239 - 264
Bibliography No access Pages 265 - 280