How Philosophy Became Socratic: A Study of Plato's "Protagoras," "Charmides," and "Republic"

by Laurence Lampert

Plato’s dialogues show Socrates at different ages, beginning when he was about nineteen and already deeply immersed in philosophy and ending with his execution five decades later. By presenting his model philosopher across a fifty-year span of his life, Plato leads his readers to does that time period correspond to the development of Socrates’ thought? In this magisterial investigation of the evolution of Socrates’ philosophy, Laurence Lampert answers in the affirmative.The chronological route that Plato maps for us, Lampert argues, reveals the enduring record of philosophy as it gradually took the form that came to dominate the life of the mind in the West. The reader accompanies Socrates as he breaks with the century-old tradition of philosophy, turns to his own path, gradually enters into a deeper understanding of nature and human nature, and discovers the successful way to transmit his wisdom to the wider world. Focusing on the final and most prominent step in that process and offering detailed textual analysis of Plato’s Protagoras, Charmides, and Republic, How Philosophy Became Socratic charts Socrates’ gradual discovery of a proper politics to shelter and advance philosophy.

Genres: Philosophy

453 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Laurence Lampert is a leading scholar in Nietzsche studies. He received both his master's and doctorate degrees from Northwestern University (in 1968 and 1971).

He taught at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis for over thirty years and is now a professor emeritus there.

An informative interview with Laurence Lampert, conducted by the Nietzsche Circle, can be found here (pdf).

Reviews

[David McBryde · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tour de force. Even the chapter on the Republic surprises. A very Nietzschean Plato, but I'm happy with that.