Socrates

by Monika Khanna

Socrates is a French play in three acts written by Voltaire. It is set in Ancient Greece during the events just before the trial and death of Greek philosopher Socrates. It is heavy with satire specifically at government authority and organized religion. The main characters besides the titular role is that of the priest Anitus, his entourage, Socrates' wife Xantippe, several judges, and some children Socrates has adopted as his own. Like more historical accounts by Herodotus, Plato, and Xenophon, the playwright shows Socrates as a moral individual charged with baseless accusations by a conspiracy of corrupt Athenians or Athenian officials although Voltaire implies that the wrongdoers are a select few. Unlike the historical account, Socrates deals with several judges, whereas his real life counterpart receives his punishment of death by hemlock by a jury of 500 Athenians. The presence or mention of Socrates' best-known students such as Plato, Antisthenes, Zeno of Citium, and others are replaced by unnamed disciples, delivering only a few token lines at the end of the play. Socrates is also portrayed as a monotheist and a victim of religious persecution, an interpretation that is not generally shared by modern scholars and historians. Generally, this is not the most well-known of his works in comparison with Letters on the English which Voltaire published in 1778 or the Dictionnaire philosophique published earlier in 1764. However, hints of his contempt for government and religion are apparent here which later influenced the leaders of the American Revolution and the French Revolution.

Genres: Philosophy, Plays, Classics, France, Satire, Historical Fiction, French Literature

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1759

Reviews

[Riku Sayuj · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to make use of Philosophy:

“With regard to the philosophy for which you reproach me it teaches me how to suffer the indignities of Anitus and your reproaches. To love you despite your temper.”

How to get rid of Philosophy:

“Socrates is right. But he's wrong to be right so publicly.

Where, after all, is the evil in poisoning a philosopher, especially when he's old and ugly?

Anyway, it's late, we're wasting his time! To death, to death and no more discussion about it.”

How to be resigned to Philosophy:

SOCRATES: “I’ve been prepared for death for a long while. All that worries me now is that my wife, Xantippe may come trouble my last moments and interrupt the sweet composure of my soul: I mustn't be occupied except with the Supreme Being before whom I must soon appear. But here she is: I've got to be resigned to everything.”

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Distinguished read short and easy. I love the translation of Robert Silverberg which is fully apprehended. A quick summary of Socrates life, and how it ended, apparently his questioning about life is his demise which is sad. Anytus blaming Sophist, and philosopher why Athens is crumbling. He thought that general religious, and moral collapse is the cause, and with Socrates putting some ideas about things and question it is a bad idea, so Socrates must go. Socrates indictment was guilty of not worshipping the gods whom the city worships, and corrupting young men in the city of Athens. Of course, Anytus just made this up to get rid of Socrates.


Here's a lovely words of Socrates infront of the Atheanians during his trial; A man could not know what other call right, and good is really so, unless he saw it himself. And he could only see it by examining himself, by questioning every belief, by striving to see through the mists of prejudice and confusion.........An unexamined life is not worth living~~~~Socrates.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

«When you propose ridiculous things to believe, too many men will choose to believe nothing at all.»

«Socrates is right. But he's wrong to be right so publicly.»

[Roberto Rigolin F Lopes · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are in 1759, Voltaire is executing Socrates again; the French way this time. So the circus around his fatal hemlock sip is very different from Plato’s, back there in -400. Hey, Socrates (THE intolerable reasoner) don't deserve two shots of hemlock. And Voltaire knows it, being as big trouble as Socrates himself. Thus, he makes the whole thing as ridiculous as possible for his contemporary friends. You will notice that those two thousand years of civilization (between Plato and Voltaire) tamed Socrates a bit. But the accusations against the old fool got even more absurd (e.g. he has offered up no cakes to Ceres). Takeaway: Mr. Judge, civilization needs more Socrates and Voltaires.

[Fatima M. Nabil · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's interesting how different Voltaire's socrates is from plato's! This socrates is a monotheist, abused by his wife despite her love for him, presented as a father with his adopted children in the spotlight instead of his students such as plato, this version is a satire of course and it made me laugh! it's easy to see how voltaire's writings inspire rebellion against governments (judges) and organized religion (the high priest of Ceres) making him as much of a target as socrates was.
My favorite quote from it is "it is the triumph of reason to live well with those who have none."

[booklady · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better than Candide but I prefer Plato's version.

[Julia Deptuła]

*essay t&d of socrates*

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

You will get a glimpse on who Socrates is by reading this play. Of course this play portrays the end of Socrates life.

If you read this, it will be like....

You went see the movie AVENGERS and you are just seeing final part of it. but still you can know the characters in it, the good, bad and the ugly.

[Guilherme Fonseca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Penei que seria interessante, mas não foi. Mais uma vez, não foi exatamente esse o livro que li e sim a biografia de Sócrates da coleção POKET BOOK

Imagino que posso até encontrar uma biografia maneira sobre a vida dela, mas de fato nao será a que eu comprei.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found another favorite! :)

[Krollo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play is fairly interesting. It's not going to win awards for historical accuracy, but it's an interesting use of Socrates' story and application of a love story. It makes a fairly decent play.

[Rajesh · Rating 3 out of 5]

good books

[Faran · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He is a deist! He is an atheist!"

One of my favorites of Voltaire's sarcastic commentaries on how the uneducated think!

[Gregergreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book

[Rizza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was pure banter.