
Delving into the vibrant world of Athenian philosophy after Socrates' death, this volume offers a comprehensive guide to the thinkers who shaped the early classical era. It begins with a concise overview of pre‑Socratic thought, then moves to Socrates himself, his distinctive method, and the circle of companions who recorded his dialogues. The author arranges the material to highlight the connections between speculative philosophy, the growth of dialectic, and the enduring legacy of Plato’s canon.
The work balances scholarly rigor with clear explanations, examining disputed attributions within the Platonic corpus and evaluating the surviving fragments of lost works. Readers will find detailed commentary on dialogues such as the Apology, Crito, and Euthyphro, as well as insight into lesser‑known figures like Xenophon and the various “other companions” of Socrates. Designed for both students of philosophy and curious listeners, the book illuminates how these early debates set the stage for later developments in Western thought.
Language
en
Duration
~22 hours (1295K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Ed Brandon as part of the on-line Grote Project
Release date
2012-08-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1794–1871
A banker turned radical politician and historian, he devoted years to making ancient Greece vivid and understandable for modern readers. He is best remembered for his sweeping multi-volume History of Greece and for bringing a clear, independent mind to both politics and scholarship.
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