Arguing with Socrates

An Introduction to Plato's Shorter Dialogues

Ranging from the Symposium to the Apology, this is a concise butauthoritative guide to the most important and widely studied of Plato'sSocratic dialogues.Taking each of the major dialogues in turn, Arguingwith Socrates encourages students to engage directly with the questionsthat Socrates raises and with their relevance to 21st century life. Along theway, the book draws on Socrates' thought to explore such questions as:

 

• What is virtue and can it be taught?

• Should we obey the law if we don't agree with it?

• Do brave people feel fear?

• Can we find truth in poetry?

 

Arguing with Socrates also includes an extensive introduction, providing an overview of the keythemes of the dialogues, their political and cultural context and Socrates'philosophical method. Guides to further reading are also provided to helpstudents take their studies further, making this an essential one-volumereference for anyone studying these foundational philosophical works.