The Death of Socrates

by Emily Wilson

There were heroic lives and deaths before and after, but none quite like Socrates'. He did not die by sword or spear, braving all to defend home and country, but as a condemned criminal, swallowing a painless dose of poison. And yet Socrates' death in 399 BCE has figured large in our world ever since, shaping how we think about heroism and celebrity, religion and family life, state control and individual freedom, the distance of intellectual life from daily activity--many of the key coordinates of Western culture. In this book Emily Wilson analyzes the enormous and enduring power the trial and death of Socrates has exerted over the Western imagination.

Beginning with the accounts of contemporaries like Aristophanes, Xenophon, and, above all, Plato, the book offers a comprehensive look at the death of Socrates as both a historical event and a controversial cultural ideal. Wilson shows how Socrates' death--more than his character, actions, or philosophical beliefs--has played an essential role in his story. She considers literary, philosophical, and artistic works--by Cicero, Erasmus, Milton, Voltaire, Hegel, and Brecht, among others--that used the death of Socrates to discuss power, politics, religion, the life of the mind, and the good life. As highly readable as it is deeply learned, her book combines vivid descriptions, critical insights, and breadth of research to explore how Socrates' death--especially his seeming ability to control it--has mattered so much, for so long, to so many different people.

Genres: Philosophy, History, Nonfiction, Biography, Greece, Classics, Psychology

256 pages, Hardcover

First published July 26, 2007

About the author

Emily R. Wilson (b. 1971) is a Professor in the Department of Classical Studies and Chair of the Program in Comparative Literature and Literary Theory. She has a BA from Oxford in Classics, an M. Phil., also from Oxford, in English Literature (1500-1660), and a Ph.D. from Yale in Classics and Comparative Literature. Her first book was Mocked with Death: Tragic overliving from Sophocles to Milton (Johns Hopkins, 2004). Her second book was The Death of Socrates: Hero, Villain, Chatterbox, Saint (Harvard UP 2007). Her third was "Seneca: A Life" (also published in the US as "The Greatest Empire": Penguin/ OUP USA, 2015). She has published verse translations of Seneca's tragedies (Oxford World's Classics), Euripides ("The Greek Plays", Modern Library Random House), and The Odyssey (Norton, fall 2017). Other publications include various chapters and articles on the reception of classical literature in English literature, and reviews in the TLS and LRB. She is the classics editor for the revised Norton Anthology of World Literature, and Western Literature.

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Socrates probably would've spit out the hemlock if he had experienced a last minute vision of how future generations would spin his death to suit their own needs, but then again I imagine he would've relished the opportunity to pepper them with questions regarding the "truth" of such interpretations. Fortunately for us, Wilson's survey of such generational revisionism makes for intriguing reading. And if nothing else, she made me self conscious about my own biases regarding the world's most prominent "gadfly" when teaching the Apology and Crito this semester in Law and Literature seminar.

Wilson addresses two audiences in a pretty seamless manner, providing an effective, though hardly provocative -- a la I.F. Stone's Trial of Socrates -- summary of historical context for those encountering this material for the firt time, and a nuanced and rigorous analysis of S's "afterlife, " if you will, for more seasoned students / fans of his work. Though I was already familiar with the background, primarily through Stone's excellent book, I found Wilson's writing so lucid and light that I didn't mind the refresher at all.

As an interesting side bar to this book, I'd recommend watching Simon Schama's urbane talk on French painter Jacques Louis David, from the BBC Series "Power of Art" (available in dvd), in which he discusses David's famous "Death of Socrates." Great visuals, and Schama is a most witty and insightful guide.

[Matt McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

χαίρε

My newest favorite author and academic doesn’t disappoint. Emily Wilson provides a clear and concise portrait of Socrates, or better ~ how he was interpreted - throughout history. She packs a great deal of understanding into a relatively small space. I appreciate her well placed, dry, sometimes ironic humor. I think I chuckled, shook my head and said to myself, “true” a half dozen times.

A potential reader shouldn’t be expecting a comprehensive analysis of all things Socratic. Rather, an enjoyable experience in knowing oneself a bit better through through exposure to a unique individual is a real result of reading Wilson.

[Kiki Seong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cool stuff here. Some deep analysis that makes me ever more interested in the 'greek chatterbox,' Socrates!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my! I’d give it 10 stars!

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a bad introduction to Socrates (or So-crates to all you Bill and Ted fans) which analyzes what he meant to people at different times and places. The most interesting point that the book makes is that we cannot really know exactly what kind of a man that Socrates was or exactly what he really said, as the two contemporary accounts of his life differ somewhat. What this means is that Socrates has been painted in many different lights throughout the years since he remains entirely open to interpretation. Was he a die-hard champion of truth and reason or was he just a hard-drinking pest who was incapable of holding his tongue? The book goes on to various interpretations of what Socrates meant to people from different times from the Roman era to the enlightenment and on to today. If nothing else, I am compelled to read some Plato and some Xenophon and to form my own opinion.

[Apollo Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love how approachable this was, i have never really been a fan of reading philosophical texts so i was a bit nervous picking this up. wilson doesn’t dig very deeply into all of socrates’ ideas, but she does a great job explaining some of his beliefs so that the further arguments are comprehensible. i feel like i learned a lot about why socrates was so controversial, and by extension, such a studied figure throughout history, with wildly differing opinions through the centuries that have passed. the arguments of socrates as jesus and socrates as a saint i found particularly interesting, but generally in this book there were a few moments where i wish there was some more context or explanation on points brought up, that felt like they were dropped quickly. i did enjoy this, but it definitely is more of an introduction to socrates, and can help point you in the right direction of further study.

[Lisa McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading this book in the spring of 2024, it occurred to me that maybe it has always been a feature of democracy to kill the wisest citizen, and not a flaw. What is your opinion? Why?

[G.G. Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Professor Wilson’s book invaluable in the course of writing a novel, Sophronikos, Son of Sokrates, not so much because of what I didn’t know about the historical figure Socrates, nobody really knows much about him; I found it invaluable because of Wilson’s candor early on. She acknowledges a conflict that so many modern fans of Socrates must have—a conflict between their admiration of a man who relentlessly pursued Truth and their disappointment in him because of his ostensible lack of attention to his family: “I find Socrates’ family life—of lack of it—particularly difficult to admire,” Wilson says. “It is hard to respect a man who neglected his wife and sons in order to spend his time drinking and chatting with his friends about the definitions of common words.” So immediately I felt that I had in hand a work by someone who had given thought to the man “in the round,” as theater people might say.

We can level complaints at Wilson because of that statement, that maybe one shouldn’t judge Socrates with modern sensibilities, that maybe things were different back in the day, that maybe we’re actually talking Plato here rather than Socrates; but when a modern reader does some digging, he or she will certainly, at some point, be struck by this apparent “lack” in our icon Socrates. He had three sons, a wife or two (we’re not really sure how many wives), and for whatever reasons, he chose to drink poison and off himself when, according to tradition, friends and admirers had provided him an opportunity to escape. And this to me as a writer was something that I was very interested in; that “lack” must have had a direct and deep impact on his oikos. Wilson is one of the few scholars I came across who have directly criticized him because of this, and for that I commend her. This is a fine book to add to a collection, and I recommend it without reservation. Hopefully in the future she’ll make it available as an ebook. If you’re interested in Socrates try others as well by Waterfield, Hughes, Stone, Vlastos, Navia, McPherran, and of course the primary sources we have on Socrates.

[Timothy McCluskey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I had read I.F. Stone's Death of Socrates many years ago and this is a good companion. Wilson gives an excellent overview of the interpretation of the death of Socrates over the centuries which provides for a context to understand its relevance today. Stone shocked me years ago because I had always understood Socrates to be a defend of truth and integrity which I assumed went hand in hand with democracy. However, the suggestion that he might have been an anti-democrat was revealing. at times when I listen to the current 'shouting' over the airways and am always amazed at the lack of real serious intellectual debate, (people expounding on Capitalism and yet they have never read Adam Smith or any other economist for that matter, as an example) I wonder.

What would would Socrates do today when market culture has replaced the political (focus groups to design campaigns rather than dialogue; the marketing of candidates and positions rather than inquiry of the common good; the importance of getting your side elected rather than looking at the nation as a whole)?

The discussion on pain and suffering connected to the death or both Jesus and Socrates was also fascinating. I had not thought of the theology of redemptive suffering for a while. Wilson does a good job in discussing those who value the death of Jesus more because he suffered more was provocative, especially when she points out the thinking that 'pagans' could never be considered possessing real integrity because of their 'lack of faith'.

Finally, it was interesting to see how Socrates 'prefigured' the Christian theology of after life in his approach to death.

A very good read!

[Kevin Howery · Rating 5 out of 5]

How very telling that the 1 star reviews for this book have no comments explaining their dislike of this work. As I see it, Wilson does not present a text that one can like or dislike. Instead this is a piece of significant thought. Using many mediums of human insight (theatre art, visual art, literary art, and even culinary arts) we are given a concise, rounded view of how Socrates death and life after death. Wilson shows her knowledge of the classics and argues for the relevance oh Socratic considerations in modern education by making the reader consume many differing opinions on Socrates. In this way, we can read it and like or dislike Socrates, but not how it is presented. Well rounded intellectualism reminds me that, much like Socrates believed, we truly know so little.

[Somaia Elshami]

I read thoroughly till page 102, found it not worth reading, thought of giving it opportunity, so i skimmed through the rest of it, but this only proved my point. ok, my problem with the book is that it does not discuss ideas or offer contemplation. All what it does is discussing the historical debates about Socrates, referring to what other philosophers throughout ages think about him ...etc

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with the other side of the story about Socrates trial. Something I remember touching on in college but not really delving in to. This is a good book for all serious students of western philosophical thought

[Larry (LPosse1) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love Emily Wilson. She does rile up the male heavy stoic crowd with her contrarian views. Great book on an iconic “thinker”. We all need to revisit this book after Donald J Robertson excellent new release. She does try to dash a few ivory towers with her take on Socrates.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you're interested in philosophy and socrates then this is a very good book and also if you know nothing of his death or his philosophy it raises interesting points about morals and society.

[Brook T. Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

intriguing

[Chris Halverson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful history of interpretation book, well worth your time if you are interested in Socrates.

[Charles Francis]

The Death of Socrates: A Thoughtful but Challenging Read

Emily R. Wilson’s The Death of Socrates ambitiously delves into one of philosophy’s most enduring moments: the trial and execution of Socrates. It’s an undeniably rich subject, brimming with intellectual tension and historical intrigue. Wilson examines the cultural, political, and philosophical threads that led to Socrates’ death, aiming to unravel why his defiance and ultimate demise still resonate.

But while the subject matter is fascinating, the execution feels dense and, at times, plodding. Wilson’s prose, though erudite, can be daunting for readers without a strong grounding in classical studies. What should have been an engaging exploration often drags under the weight of its own meticulousness. Instead of drawing the reader into Socrates’ world, the book risks alienating all but the most devoted scholars.

That said, Wilson’s insights are sharp, and her ability to connect Socrates’ story to broader themes of dissent, justice, and the power of ideas deserves credit. The book’s ambition is clear—but ambition alone doesn’t make for a compelling narrative.

The Death of Socrates offers moments of brilliance, but its pacing and density may leave readers struggling to stay engaged. For those who persevere, there are rewards to be found—but for many, this might feel less like a philosophical revelation and more like an intellectual marathon or a college research assignment.

Rating: 3/5
Charles Francis, 12/30/2024

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first 150 pages of this book are fascinating, and I'd encourage anyone with the slightest interest in classical history or philosophy to read them. Emily Wilson has really done her homework, and her brief description of Athens and its politics during and after the Peloponnesian War is the most lucid I have ever read. She describes Socrates as well as she can, explaining that pretty much everything we know about him comes from either Plato or Xenophon, and their portraits do not agree. She is very even-handed in her praise and blame. She then begins her long description of Socrates's "afterlife"--the opinions of him held by the later Greeks, then by the Romans, then by philosophers from the middle ages to the present. Depending on the zeitgeist of the period and its politics, opinions of Socrates have varied widely over the last 2500 years. She finishes with his almost complete disappearance from modern life and literature, mentioning very favorably three excellent novels by Walter Mosley about a Black convicted, imprisoned, and released murderer named Socrates Fortlow, trying to forge a moral life for himself in Watts. We've come a long, long way from her very clear summaries of the views of Cicero and Seneca.

[Jan-Pieter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides insight into the various explanations that have been offered as to why Socrates was convicted. Without choosing or proposing the ' final' explanation, Wilson highlights arguments from all sides. Recommends for an impartial view. not as much fun though as, say, Izzy Stone's book.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is ostensibly written as an overview of how Western society has viewed Socrates' death in various nations and eras, and as a survey history it isn't bad, but it's clearly written by someone whose specializes more in philosophy rather than history. I say that because Wilson writes more like this is a philosophy text; it asks lots of questions, many more than it answers, and even when she does attempt to answer questions, she's keen to stress first how her answers are not foolproof and how much we don't know. Which is very Socratic of her (since Socrates' belief was that the wise person is the one who is aware of their own ignorance), but also has the unfortunate side effect in this case of undermining her authority somewhat with the reader.

[Austin Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved Socrates since I first read him back in junior high school. I picked up this book not really knowing what it was but I knew it was about Socrates. The first half of the book was interesting, detailing some of the historical context around Socrates and why he died. However, I become bored with the second half of the book. The book essentially became an art history, outlining the way different artists depicted Socrates throughout the centuries, reflecting how different eras viewed Socrates in a different light. No offense, I like Socrates but I don't care too much about how other people felt about Socrates. Maybe I'm weird like that...

[Terence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to Socrates and his place in Western Philosophy. The book is accessible and highlights key aspects of Socrates. However, I think many who have tasted the finer wines of Eastern Philosophy will agree, clearly, that there was no man more foolish than he.