Synopses & Reviews
The Greek philosopher Socrates lived by the tenet that the path to truth was built on questions. When conversing with his students and followers he sought to reach the foundations of their views, asking questions until he found contradictions that exposed faults in their logic. This process became known as the Socratic Method.
An enigmatic figure in history, Socrates left no writings. Much of what we know about his life and work comes from the accounts of his disciple Plato. Plato described Socrates as the ultimate teacher as well as the creator of modern argument and rhetoric. The Socratic Dialogues contain Platos most important writings on Socrates, including commentaries on the virtues of friendship, courage, and temperance that display the Socratic Method at its highest degree. Platos account of Socrates stunning self-defense during his trial for corrupting the minds of his followers is also included.
About the Author
Plato was a Greek philosopher who lived in the fifth century BC. As student of Socrates and mentor to Aristotle, Plato laid the foundations of Western philosophy and culture. Mathematician, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the first institution of higher learning in the West, Plato's influence on thought, government, and law cannot be overstated.