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Socrates: A Complete Biography
"Socrates had an early interest in the scientific theories of Anaxagoras, who taught the world that there are an infinite number of different kinds of elementary particles (atoms), and it is the action of the mind upon these particles that produce the objects that we see. Socrates believed that the senses of the body create difficulty for the Mind to think, and thus, he came to regard the physical world as deceptive.
Socrates believed that his work, which he sought to understand through critical questioning and dialogue, was given to him as a divine mission, and hence, was his duty. His total lack of interest in material possessions was evident by his being always barefoot and wearing an old cloak the whole year around. His habit of going barefoot even in winter showed his power of endurance as well. To him, the aspiration for virtue was the highest aim anyone could have.
Socrates believed that his work, which he sought to understand through critical questioning and dialogue, was given to him as a divine mission, and hence, was his duty. His total lack of interest in material possessions was evident by his being always barefoot and wearing an old cloak the whole year around. His habit of going barefoot even in winter showed his power of endurance as well. To him, the aspiration for virtue was the highest aim anyone could have.
172 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 5, 2025
As a general summary of Socrates’ views, this book contains some useful information. It is broadly split into two equal parts. Part I contains a biography of Socrates and part II contains a kind of philosophical dictionary, working through concepts and ideas in alphabetical order, and explaining what Socrates says about each point.
The dictionary is informative, but it would have been more helpful if it had also referenced the points it makes, so that readers can see whether the information comes from the broadly contemporaneous sources of Plato or Xenophon, or whether it comes from the much later summaries of philosophers, such as Diogenes Laertius’. There is a serious problem for scholars in knowing which information about Socrates is accurate, so there needs to be clarity in the referencing so that readers are aware of the issue.
The first part of the book provides a simple summary of Socrates’ life, but it makes some generalised points which are arguably misleading or inaccurate. For example, the introduction tells us that Socrates ‘struggled as a mason for many years.’ Is that really accurate? We know that Socrates’ father was a mason, so it is plausible that Socrates himself was trained as a mason. But we have no reliable information that Socrates ever practised the skill of masonry, let alone that he ‘struggled’ as a mason.
Of course, there are later anecdotes that Socrates carved some of the blocks on the Parthenon, and no doubt ancient tour guides could point the blocks out. But there are no contemporaneous sources to confirm that Socrates carved anything at all.
Another example of a somewhat misleading point is the claim (also in the introduction) that Socrates ‘saved the life of General Alcibiades’ at the battle of Potidaea. Yes, the evidence tells us that Socrates did indeed save the life of Alcibiades, but this occurred many years before Alcibiades became a general. It would have been more accurate to say that Socrates saved the life of Alcibiades, who would later go on to become a general (and be accused of treachery).
Some of the points in the book are inaccurate, perhaps due to typo errors. For example, in chapter 2 we are told that Socrates ‘was convicted to death by a margin of six votes.’ No, the ancient sources tell us that the vote was 280 to 220, so he was convicted by 60 votes, not 6.
Also in chapter two we are told that the Academy remained in existence from 387BC to AD529 when it was closed by Justinian. In reality, matters are a little more complex than that claim suggests. Yes, Justinian closed down an establishment which claimed to be the Platonic Academy, but the actual academy of Plato was burned down over 400 years earlier, in 88BC by Sulla in the first Mithridatic war. The current head of the academy went to Rome and left Athens. From that point it becomes less clear about which philosopher was continuing the ‘real’ Platonic academy.
When it comes to Socrates trial, matters are again over-simplified to the point of potential inaccuracy. We are told in chapter 4 that ‘because of his political associations with an earlier regime, the Athenian democracy put Socrates on trial…’ That view is certainly a view held by some historians. But it is just one interpretation of a very complex state of affairs which existed in Athens at the time of Socrates conviction. Ideally those complexities need flagging up so that readers are aware of the fact that what they are being given is an opinion about why Socrates was killed, not a historically referenced piece of evidence.
Overall, this is a readable narrative of Socrates’ life, and anyone interested in learning more about Socrates can get a broad general view of Socrates from reading it. However, there are inaccuracies and over-simplifications in the text, so readers need to be careful if they focus on specific claims in the text, and ideally they will need to check with other sources for any information in the text which they want to rely upon.
The dictionary is informative, but it would have been more helpful if it had also referenced the points it makes, so that readers can see whether the information comes from the broadly contemporaneous sources of Plato or Xenophon, or whether it comes from the much later summaries of philosophers, such as Diogenes Laertius’. There is a serious problem for scholars in knowing which information about Socrates is accurate, so there needs to be clarity in the referencing so that readers are aware of the issue.
The first part of the book provides a simple summary of Socrates’ life, but it makes some generalised points which are arguably misleading or inaccurate. For example, the introduction tells us that Socrates ‘struggled as a mason for many years.’ Is that really accurate? We know that Socrates’ father was a mason, so it is plausible that Socrates himself was trained as a mason. But we have no reliable information that Socrates ever practised the skill of masonry, let alone that he ‘struggled’ as a mason.
Of course, there are later anecdotes that Socrates carved some of the blocks on the Parthenon, and no doubt ancient tour guides could point the blocks out. But there are no contemporaneous sources to confirm that Socrates carved anything at all.
Another example of a somewhat misleading point is the claim (also in the introduction) that Socrates ‘saved the life of General Alcibiades’ at the battle of Potidaea. Yes, the evidence tells us that Socrates did indeed save the life of Alcibiades, but this occurred many years before Alcibiades became a general. It would have been more accurate to say that Socrates saved the life of Alcibiades, who would later go on to become a general (and be accused of treachery).
Some of the points in the book are inaccurate, perhaps due to typo errors. For example, in chapter 2 we are told that Socrates ‘was convicted to death by a margin of six votes.’ No, the ancient sources tell us that the vote was 280 to 220, so he was convicted by 60 votes, not 6.
Also in chapter two we are told that the Academy remained in existence from 387BC to AD529 when it was closed by Justinian. In reality, matters are a little more complex than that claim suggests. Yes, Justinian closed down an establishment which claimed to be the Platonic Academy, but the actual academy of Plato was burned down over 400 years earlier, in 88BC by Sulla in the first Mithridatic war. The current head of the academy went to Rome and left Athens. From that point it becomes less clear about which philosopher was continuing the ‘real’ Platonic academy.
When it comes to Socrates trial, matters are again over-simplified to the point of potential inaccuracy. We are told in chapter 4 that ‘because of his political associations with an earlier regime, the Athenian democracy put Socrates on trial…’ That view is certainly a view held by some historians. But it is just one interpretation of a very complex state of affairs which existed in Athens at the time of Socrates conviction. Ideally those complexities need flagging up so that readers are aware of the fact that what they are being given is an opinion about why Socrates was killed, not a historically referenced piece of evidence.
Overall, this is a readable narrative of Socrates’ life, and anyone interested in learning more about Socrates can get a broad general view of Socrates from reading it. However, there are inaccuracies and over-simplifications in the text, so readers need to be careful if they focus on specific claims in the text, and ideally they will need to check with other sources for any information in the text which they want to rely upon.
June 16, 2024
Amazing read
I always wanted to read about Socrates in details after knowing him from middle school textbook. This is a well researched book on the life of the great Socrates which also included the background of his era, the geography, his students and, not to miss, his wisdom. His life as a philosopher took a great turn when people started accusing his views and morals. How he was held accountable for the statements he used to deliver. I love author's take on his life and esp the wisdom section.
I always wanted to read about Socrates in details after knowing him from middle school textbook. This is a well researched book on the life of the great Socrates which also included the background of his era, the geography, his students and, not to miss, his wisdom. His life as a philosopher took a great turn when people started accusing his views and morals. How he was held accountable for the statements he used to deliver. I love author's take on his life and esp the wisdom section.
December 1, 2024
I was hoping for a more in-depth look at Socrates' philosophy
I was hoping for a more in-depth look into Socrates' philosophies and teachings. It might be that such is not available. I will have to look further.
I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a primer on Socrates.
I was hoping for a more in-depth look into Socrates' philosophies and teachings. It might be that such is not available. I will have to look further.
I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a primer on Socrates.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews