Why Socrates Died : Dispelling the Myths
Author(s): Robin Waterfield
The real story behind one of the great philosophical scandals of history - Socrates' trial and condemnation.
Socrates' trial and death together form an iconic moment in Western civilization. The picture we have of it - created by his immediate followers and perpetuated in countless works of literature and art ever since - is that a noble man was put to death in a fit of folly by the ancient Athenian democracy. But an icon, an image, is not reality. The trial was, in part, a response to troubled times - a catastrophic war and turbulent social changes - and so provides a good lens through which to explore the history of the period; the historical facts allow us to strip away some of the veneer that has for so long denied us glimpses of the real Socrates.
Written by a scholar, but not only for scholars, this is an accessible, authoritative account of one of the defining periods of Western civilization. First published 2009.
Product Information
General Fields
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- : 68139
- : 68139
- : books
Special Fields
- : 1
- : Paperback
- : Robin Waterfield