DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Socrates on Trial

Nicholas D Smith author Thomas C Brickhouse author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:24th Jan '91

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Socrates on Trial cover

Brickhouse and Smith argue, contrary to virtually every modern interpretation of Plato's Apology of Socrates, that Plato's Socrates offers a sincere defence against the charges he faces. In doing so the book offers an exhaustive historical and philosophical interpretation of and commentary on Plato's Apology. The authors demonstrate that Socrates' moral and religious principles prohibit him from needlessly risking a negative vote at his trial. By providing a complete commentary, they show that each specific claim Socrates makes in the Apology can be construed as a sincere attempt to inform the jury of the truth and convince the jurors of his blamelessness. The effect of these two strategies is a novel interpretation of the Apology which sheds new light on various aspects of Socrates' life and philosophy.

`An enlightening contribution to a fascinating subject.' David Rankin, Times Higher Education Supplement
'well-researched, sober, unprimped-up answers ... well-documented essay ... Here in highly accessible form is detailed comment on the Platonic Apology with copious references to other primary evidence on the case ... The authors' mastery of the scholarly literature is impressive.' Times Literary Supplement
'its detective work in drawing together diverse sources is masterful' S.G. Rayment, Liberator
'The arguments are clearly presented, stimulating, and interesting.' Greece and Rome Vol xxxvii No 1 Apr '90

ISBN: 9780198239383

Dimensions: 228mm x 153mm x 21mm

Weight: 463g

352 pages