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What Would Socrates Say?
What Would Socrates Say? helps the armchair philosopher solve age-old quandaries and contemporary ethical dilemmas.
- If no one ever loves me during my lifetime—if I don’t have a relationship—will I have not lived a good life?
- Do the advances in the field of biotechnology threaten our moral values?
- Are there any reasons to have a child that aren’t selfish?
- Is there no such thing as bad art?
- What’s the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter?
- Am I morally bound to tell my sex partner if I fantasize about someone else while making love to him or her?
These are among the profound, paradoxical, playful, and classic questions asked and answered in this book drawn from AskPhilosophers.org, the popular website created by some of today’s most highly esteemed philosophers. Using their knowledge of the arguments laid down by the likes of Aristotle, Camus, Locke, and Socrates, and their own insightful interpretations, they break down tough issues in a digestible, personal, and even humorous style. Included are questions on today’s hot-button topics (war, euthanasia); timeless conundrums about religion and morality (how do we know God exists?); personal perplexities about adultery, child-rearing, and sex; and a few lighthearted topics like whether it’s right to let your kids believe in Santa.
Featuring real questions from real people around the world—doctors, lawyers, the uneducated, the elderly, and even young children (for example, “If everything has an opposite, like night and day, then what’s the opposite of a banana?”)—this book is for anyone seeking enlightenment on a complicated or an elusive concept relevant to the lives we lead today. Whether you agree with the answers given or not, this book reminds us of Socrates’ famous words—“a life unexamined is not worth living”—and, in doing so, encourages us to think a little more deeply, a little more critically, and, well, a little more philosophically about how we make our way in the world
- If no one ever loves me during my lifetime—if I don’t have a relationship—will I have not lived a good life?
- Do the advances in the field of biotechnology threaten our moral values?
- Are there any reasons to have a child that aren’t selfish?
- Is there no such thing as bad art?
- What’s the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter?
- Am I morally bound to tell my sex partner if I fantasize about someone else while making love to him or her?
These are among the profound, paradoxical, playful, and classic questions asked and answered in this book drawn from AskPhilosophers.org, the popular website created by some of today’s most highly esteemed philosophers. Using their knowledge of the arguments laid down by the likes of Aristotle, Camus, Locke, and Socrates, and their own insightful interpretations, they break down tough issues in a digestible, personal, and even humorous style. Included are questions on today’s hot-button topics (war, euthanasia); timeless conundrums about religion and morality (how do we know God exists?); personal perplexities about adultery, child-rearing, and sex; and a few lighthearted topics like whether it’s right to let your kids believe in Santa.
Featuring real questions from real people around the world—doctors, lawyers, the uneducated, the elderly, and even young children (for example, “If everything has an opposite, like night and day, then what’s the opposite of a banana?”)—this book is for anyone seeking enlightenment on a complicated or an elusive concept relevant to the lives we lead today. Whether you agree with the answers given or not, this book reminds us of Socrates’ famous words—“a life unexamined is not worth living”—and, in doing so, encourages us to think a little more deeply, a little more critically, and, well, a little more philosophically about how we make our way in the world
- GenresPhilosophyNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2007
23 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 16, 2018
Recently challenged by one of my former English/Literature teachers to use “20 awesome historical words we need to bring back” (link below if anyone is up for the challenge!) I thought it’d be fun to give it a go here😜:
Though I may come off as a pretentious peg puff, I have nothing better to do than write an ultracrepidarian review in light of unceasing uhtcearing in bed as a result of my consumerist cacoethes which have once again resulted in an unshakeable shivviness.
I cannot say that there is no twattling in this book, but perhaps that is what lends it an undeniably entertaining quality. The anecdotal and conversational style make it accessible to even beginning philosophers, as well as those philogrobilized or simply dysaniac slugabeds who enjoy grufeling in sub-standard weather conditions.
A plethora of questions touching on love, death, justice, and everything in between are explored by real-life philosophers who are perhaps fudgeling ever so slightly, or perendinating the more academic work assigned to them. Though some questions seem to be posed by snollygosters and grumbletonians suspicious at the probable kakistocratic nature of authority, this doesn’t diminish the fact that the text is certainly a thought-provoker.
Whilst occasionally frobly-mobly in the way formal philosophical concepts and theories are used, it’s a light read perfect for the abligurition-addicted lanspresado and groke, especially if they are fortunate enough to have a coach willing to temporarily donate their philosophy books to them.
While novels are not commonly described as “callipygian”, as one philosopher, Paul Grice suggests, “what gives words meaning is that they become standardised as tools for getting certain messages across” - perhaps if enough people adopt this phrasing, it will become a common book descriptor...plus I can think of no other way to use all twenty words than to misappropriate this one.
An amusing, informative, and stimulating read.
Link: http://historyhustle.com/20-awesome-h...
Though I may come off as a pretentious peg puff, I have nothing better to do than write an ultracrepidarian review in light of unceasing uhtcearing in bed as a result of my consumerist cacoethes which have once again resulted in an unshakeable shivviness.
I cannot say that there is no twattling in this book, but perhaps that is what lends it an undeniably entertaining quality. The anecdotal and conversational style make it accessible to even beginning philosophers, as well as those philogrobilized or simply dysaniac slugabeds who enjoy grufeling in sub-standard weather conditions.
A plethora of questions touching on love, death, justice, and everything in between are explored by real-life philosophers who are perhaps fudgeling ever so slightly, or perendinating the more academic work assigned to them. Though some questions seem to be posed by snollygosters and grumbletonians suspicious at the probable kakistocratic nature of authority, this doesn’t diminish the fact that the text is certainly a thought-provoker.
Whilst occasionally frobly-mobly in the way formal philosophical concepts and theories are used, it’s a light read perfect for the abligurition-addicted lanspresado and groke, especially if they are fortunate enough to have a coach willing to temporarily donate their philosophy books to them.
While novels are not commonly described as “callipygian”, as one philosopher, Paul Grice suggests, “what gives words meaning is that they become standardised as tools for getting certain messages across” - perhaps if enough people adopt this phrasing, it will become a common book descriptor...plus I can think of no other way to use all twenty words than to misappropriate this one.
An amusing, informative, and stimulating read.
Link: http://historyhustle.com/20-awesome-h...
June 7, 2010
I took a Sunday and read this book in one day. It was a nice experience, interesting, absorbing, with different philosophy experts weighing in on different topics.
October 15, 2020
Socrates was a legendary philosopher who left no written works behind. Most of what we know of him is from his most famous student, Plato. "What Would Socrates Say?" is a book that invokes images of Socrates while asking questions that still plague us today. Some of the questions posed are quite profound, while others are seemingly obvious.
The answers are short, generally coming in at around a page in length or less. As a result, the book is a joy to read. Some of the questions have more than one answer.
So, I enjoyed this book. It wasn't phenomenal, but it wasn't terrible either.
The answers are short, generally coming in at around a page in length or less. As a result, the book is a joy to read. Some of the questions have more than one answer.
So, I enjoyed this book. It wasn't phenomenal, but it wasn't terrible either.
February 1, 2018
I bought this book online, thinking it would be about what the title says 'What would Socrates say?'. The book summary on the back cover was misleading, to say the least.
The book is written in a Q&A form, which is fine. What is not fine is that a. the book is not about what it says it is b. there is no direct reference to specific Schools of Philosophical thinking (or Socrates, for that matter), just random quotes here and there supposedly supporting vague arguments and weak examples. The questions are more thought-provoking than the actual answers.
This book is neither for the 'advanced' philosophical reader nor the beginner. I feel like I was 'cheated' and life is too short to read books you don't enjoy even remotely.
Had I browsed through the pages in the store (and not online) would not give this book a try.
The book is written in a Q&A form, which is fine. What is not fine is that a. the book is not about what it says it is b. there is no direct reference to specific Schools of Philosophical thinking (or Socrates, for that matter), just random quotes here and there supposedly supporting vague arguments and weak examples. The questions are more thought-provoking than the actual answers.
This book is neither for the 'advanced' philosophical reader nor the beginner. I feel like I was 'cheated' and life is too short to read books you don't enjoy even remotely.
Had I browsed through the pages in the store (and not online) would not give this book a try.
September 25, 2016
Reading this book was a game changing eye opener for me. I shifted my focus on everything thanks to this important work.
August 18, 2025
Filsafat itu berawal dari kekaguman. Seperti buku ini yang membuat saya kagum. Menanyakan tentang hal-hal yang tidak harus dipertanyakan, membuat rumit suatu pertanyaan, kenapa?
After i read this book, ternyata banyak sekali hal hal yang tidak saya ketahui, dan membuat saya merasakan dunning Kruger effect yang lumayan ngena. Kenapa saya tidak belajar dari dulu? merasa "pintar" "lebih dari orang lain" sudah saya hilangkan. Kita hidup tidak tentang bersaing dengan orang lain, namun dengan diri sendiri.
Balik lagi ke topik, dengan belajar filsafat, dan menanyakan hal-hal aneh, dan dijawab dengan bahasa korporat membuat saya merasa lebih hidup, bukan untuk merasa lebih.
Baca, belajar, memahami suatu buku, apalagi buku ini akan memberikan perspektif yang berbeda tentang kehidupan.
After i read this book, ternyata banyak sekali hal hal yang tidak saya ketahui, dan membuat saya merasakan dunning Kruger effect yang lumayan ngena. Kenapa saya tidak belajar dari dulu? merasa "pintar" "lebih dari orang lain" sudah saya hilangkan. Kita hidup tidak tentang bersaing dengan orang lain, namun dengan diri sendiri.
Balik lagi ke topik, dengan belajar filsafat, dan menanyakan hal-hal aneh, dan dijawab dengan bahasa korporat membuat saya merasa lebih hidup, bukan untuk merasa lebih.
Baca, belajar, memahami suatu buku, apalagi buku ini akan memberikan perspektif yang berbeda tentang kehidupan.
August 10, 2025
This book offers a bite size selection of questions and responses to many philosophical quandaries. These questions are on a variety of topics related to areas such as human experience, truth, science, and religion.
It’s a nice little book that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It gives you a few things to think about. Sometimes you agree with the philosophers answers and sometimes you don’t! That is the nature of philosophy though.
It’s a nice little book that doesn’t overstay its welcome. It gives you a few things to think about. Sometimes you agree with the philosophers answers and sometimes you don’t! That is the nature of philosophy though.
March 12, 2019
menarik, banayak orang awam dan mungkin aku juga menanyakan sesuatu yang receh atau tidak penting. Menariknya, semua dijawab oleh para filsuf saat ini, mungkin terdengar aneh bagi seseorang untuk membaca dengan keadaan gelas terisi. Membaca buku ini menariknya adalah kosongkan pikiranmu tentang yang kamu tahu. biarkan pikiranmu mengalir dan melihat dari berbagai sisi
March 25, 2020
A good range of questions
May 19, 2022
AMAZING ”Agera alltid så din handling kan upphöjas i en lag” AHHH SÅ BRA
December 11, 2022
Thought provoking , should start some interesting conversations with friends and family!
January 25, 2023
Maybe it’s unfair to rate a book I didn’t finish. This was so boring and the title is very misleading. I’m grateful I borrowed it from the library & did not purchase it.
December 14, 2012
At first I thought I was a victim of bait and switch. This is not a book of contemporary questions answered by quotes from classical philosophers. And I would have quickly figured that out if I had taken even a minute or so to thumb through it. But it was cheap on a remainder table and it looked like fun,
Socrates remains silent for the most part, although he and other big guns may be occasionally referenced by one of the twenty-two academics who answer reader inquiries on the website AskPhilosophers.org. They all teach at respected institutions, with Amherst College, home base of editor Alexander George, well represented. And this contemporary line up of philosophers probably have more to say and can speak more directly to the issues posed by the questioners than quotes pulled from The Critique of Pure Reason or The Nichomachean Ethics. For instance, I cannot image that Socrates would be very enlightening on the Santa Claus issue -- when to tell, how to break the news, and specifically is it morally wrong to let kids believe in St. Nick at all. On the other hand, Mark Crimmins, who teaches at Stanford, and Louise Antony from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, offer lively, contrasting views. I am curious to know how many parents will be convinced to follow Ms. Antony's tough love approach.
The book is divided into chapters with titles like, "What Can I Know," "What is a Man," and, "What Ought I to Do." (On that last one, yes, you should probably visit your mother for Christmas even if you don't particularly want to.) The question of relativity comes up often, in the moral rather than the Einsteinan sense. If lions eat meat why shouldn't I? Why are moral codes opposed to evolutionary codes?
In some cases the inquirer might get more than he or she bargained for, but the responders are not above telling the questioners not to quibble so on some issues. When asked why philosophers so seldom agree, Nicholas J. Smith of Lewis and Clark in Portland, Oregon, is very to the point, "It is our job to disagree."
This makes for good breakfast reading. A question or two a day is about right.
Socrates remains silent for the most part, although he and other big guns may be occasionally referenced by one of the twenty-two academics who answer reader inquiries on the website AskPhilosophers.org. They all teach at respected institutions, with Amherst College, home base of editor Alexander George, well represented. And this contemporary line up of philosophers probably have more to say and can speak more directly to the issues posed by the questioners than quotes pulled from The Critique of Pure Reason or The Nichomachean Ethics. For instance, I cannot image that Socrates would be very enlightening on the Santa Claus issue -- when to tell, how to break the news, and specifically is it morally wrong to let kids believe in St. Nick at all. On the other hand, Mark Crimmins, who teaches at Stanford, and Louise Antony from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, offer lively, contrasting views. I am curious to know how many parents will be convinced to follow Ms. Antony's tough love approach.
The book is divided into chapters with titles like, "What Can I Know," "What is a Man," and, "What Ought I to Do." (On that last one, yes, you should probably visit your mother for Christmas even if you don't particularly want to.) The question of relativity comes up often, in the moral rather than the Einsteinan sense. If lions eat meat why shouldn't I? Why are moral codes opposed to evolutionary codes?
In some cases the inquirer might get more than he or she bargained for, but the responders are not above telling the questioners not to quibble so on some issues. When asked why philosophers so seldom agree, Nicholas J. Smith of Lewis and Clark in Portland, Oregon, is very to the point, "It is our job to disagree."
This makes for good breakfast reading. A question or two a day is about right.
November 18, 2012
Membutuhkan cukup usaha untuk mencoba menikmati buku ini dengan menghilangkan ekspektasi akan sajian-sajian pemikiran yang bisa semengganggu kajian berbasis (atau lebih tepatnya, mengangkat kata 'filsafat') pada umumnya.
Disusun dalam empat bab kelompok pertanyaan yang disebut Immanuel Kant sebagai dasar pertanyaan dalam refleksi filsafat: 'Apa yang dapat saya ketahui?', 'Apa yang seharusnya saya lakukan?', 'Apa yang boleh saya harapkan?' - dan 'Siapakah manusia itu?', buku ini menyajikan pertanyaan-pertanyaan beserta jawaban terhadapnya yang masuk ke situs AskPhilosophers.org. AskPhilosophers.org sendiri adalah sebuah situs yang, menurut penulis di kata pengantarnya, dimaksudkan untuk meredakan paradoks filsafat: "Filsafat ada dimana-mana, sekaligus tidak ada dimana-mana" (h. vii-ix). Karenanya, pertanyaan yang dimuat (dan dijawab) dalam buku ini begitu beragam dan seringkali tidak terduga sisi filosofisnya. Sayangnya, hampir sebagian besar jawaban yang diberikan, bagi saya, kurang dapat memenuhi luapan ekspektasi akan paparan-paparan filsafat yang diharapkan dapat "mengganggu" pikiran pribadi untuk sebuah kontemplasi yang lebih jauh.
Jika buku dianggap sebagai media yang dimaksudkan untuk menjadi jembatan dalam memahami kajian filsafat (dan -mungkin- memahami mengapa ada orang-orang yang mau dan merasa perlu menghabiskan waktunya untuk berpikir tentang pemikiran atas pemikiran), jawaban-jawaban yang diberikan dalam buku ini belum sampai ke sana. Tidak sedemikian intriguing.
Sepertinya, memang tidak sedemikian kelirunya jika saya secara tidak sengaja menemukan buku ini dipajang di deretan rak buku Psikologi bersama buku-buku motivasi mainstream lain. Jika pada sampulnya tertera teks "Tentang cinta, ketiadaan, dan aspek-aspek lain kehidupan" di bawah teks judul dan menemukannya di rak psikologi, barangkali memang buku ini dimaksudkan sebagai sebuah ensiklopedi mini perekam pertanyaan-pertanyaan acak dalam hidup yang dijawabi oleh mereka yang "lebih filosofis". :p
Disusun dalam empat bab kelompok pertanyaan yang disebut Immanuel Kant sebagai dasar pertanyaan dalam refleksi filsafat: 'Apa yang dapat saya ketahui?', 'Apa yang seharusnya saya lakukan?', 'Apa yang boleh saya harapkan?' - dan 'Siapakah manusia itu?', buku ini menyajikan pertanyaan-pertanyaan beserta jawaban terhadapnya yang masuk ke situs AskPhilosophers.org. AskPhilosophers.org sendiri adalah sebuah situs yang, menurut penulis di kata pengantarnya, dimaksudkan untuk meredakan paradoks filsafat: "Filsafat ada dimana-mana, sekaligus tidak ada dimana-mana" (h. vii-ix). Karenanya, pertanyaan yang dimuat (dan dijawab) dalam buku ini begitu beragam dan seringkali tidak terduga sisi filosofisnya. Sayangnya, hampir sebagian besar jawaban yang diberikan, bagi saya, kurang dapat memenuhi luapan ekspektasi akan paparan-paparan filsafat yang diharapkan dapat "mengganggu" pikiran pribadi untuk sebuah kontemplasi yang lebih jauh.
Jika buku dianggap sebagai media yang dimaksudkan untuk menjadi jembatan dalam memahami kajian filsafat (dan -mungkin- memahami mengapa ada orang-orang yang mau dan merasa perlu menghabiskan waktunya untuk berpikir tentang pemikiran atas pemikiran), jawaban-jawaban yang diberikan dalam buku ini belum sampai ke sana. Tidak sedemikian intriguing.
Sepertinya, memang tidak sedemikian kelirunya jika saya secara tidak sengaja menemukan buku ini dipajang di deretan rak buku Psikologi bersama buku-buku motivasi mainstream lain. Jika pada sampulnya tertera teks "Tentang cinta, ketiadaan, dan aspek-aspek lain kehidupan" di bawah teks judul dan menemukannya di rak psikologi, barangkali memang buku ini dimaksudkan sebagai sebuah ensiklopedi mini perekam pertanyaan-pertanyaan acak dalam hidup yang dijawabi oleh mereka yang "lebih filosofis". :p
July 8, 2013
Saya membaca versi terjemahan indonesianya. Menurut saya, akan lebih baik membaca yang versi inggris. Karena buku ini bersifat filsafat, jadi kadang sering menemukan kata-kata 'rancu' dalam buku ini.
Over all, buku ini bagus. Banyak menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan sederhana yang kadang tidak sempat terpikirkan.
Over all, buku ini bagus. Banyak menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan sederhana yang kadang tidak sempat terpikirkan.
September 21, 2014
Baca dari Juni baru selesai September. Hehe
Lama selesainya karena saya lagi males mikir pas lagi baca. Banyak kosakata ala filsuf yang gak dikasih catatan kaki jadi nggak ngerti artinya.
Tapi beberapa pemikirannya dalam menjawab pertanyaan sederhana membuat saya memahami perihal itu, meskipun menggunakan bahasa yang lumayan sulit dimengerti.
Lama selesainya karena saya lagi males mikir pas lagi baca. Banyak kosakata ala filsuf yang gak dikasih catatan kaki jadi nggak ngerti artinya.
Tapi beberapa pemikirannya dalam menjawab pertanyaan sederhana membuat saya memahami perihal itu, meskipun menggunakan bahasa yang lumayan sulit dimengerti.
March 18, 2008
It's probably unfair to write reviews of books that I can't finish reading, but whatever... Found it on the shelves and it looked interesting. It's a compilation of Q&A from a philosophy website. Questions asked by ordinary people with answers that mostly just bored me to tears.
October 28, 2011
There isn't really much to say. If you don't know the basics of Philosophy and the most common questions about it, then you should read this book. Otherwise, it's not really interesting. The philosophers weren't really insightful except on a few things.
August 20, 2016
Se trata de un libro que recoge una serie de preguntas publicadas en una web de filosofía, y contestadas por varios filósofos. En algunas no profundiza mucho en el tema pero hay algunas respuestas que hacen que el libro merezca la pena. Es una lectura ligera y entretenida.
April 25, 2008
Thought provoking questions answered in the same fashion. Pretty deep stuff at times. Interesting enough to read over and over.
February 26, 2012
Loads of questions about love, morals, ethics, and life in general answered by philosophers using conversational language. Socrates would approve.
October 23, 2012
this perfect book dedicated for a complicated thinker ...
December 7, 2012
never understood it or what it was aiming for.
May 27, 2014
Really, really interesting - philosophical questions posed by the public and answered by philosophers.
August 4, 2011
It's okay, but not as funny as I thought it'd be.
February 5, 2014
Bahasa tingkat dewa....:)
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November 9, 2016i am happy
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