bjork5ever's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed reading this very much, just a brief example of classical rhetoric that was easily digestible and fun to read!
"Now the hour to part has come. I go to die, you go to live. Which of us goes to the better lot is known to no one"
"Now the hour to part has come. I go to die, you go to live. Which of us goes to the better lot is known to no one"
annhorchata's review against another edition
challenging
tense
slow-paced
3.75
didn't enjoy it as much as euthyphro :/
lebolt's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Humor and righteousness in the face of injustice and death.
levininja's review against another edition
5.0
This is the best introduction to the character of Socrates. It has his humor and wit front-and-center, as well as Socrates' own account of the history of his opposers and why they oppose him. He basically explains himself and his whole life. It is also one of the more religious of the dialogues, where he explains why he believes the gods have put him on this earth and how he has a relationship with a god that speaks to him only in the negative (telling him what not to do, but never what to do). It became clear to me from reading this that Socrates was really of the prophet type. Mouthpiece of the gods, speaking truth to power, all that. It helps you really understand his character well. Lots of interesting things here.
Socrates does go to great lengths to make fun of his opposition, which makes it a little weaker than other dialogues, but he's in a courtroom drama, where there are 501 jurors, and it's really kind of a popularity contest. He has to play a little bit more of the rhetorical / persuasive speech skills than he would in a normal dialogue. So this is, I think, fully understandable in the context.
It's a really short and easy read, especially compared to other dialogues. Highly recommended. Just read it. It's part of the "Trial and Death of Socrates" plays, so you may get it as part of a compilation of a few others that are also relatively easy to read and all go together. Pretty much anyone can read early Plato.
Socrates does go to great lengths to make fun of his opposition, which makes it a little weaker than other dialogues, but he's in a courtroom drama, where there are 501 jurors, and it's really kind of a popularity contest. He has to play a little bit more of the rhetorical / persuasive speech skills than he would in a normal dialogue. So this is, I think, fully understandable in the context.
It's a really short and easy read, especially compared to other dialogues. Highly recommended. Just read it. It's part of the "Trial and Death of Socrates" plays, so you may get it as part of a compilation of a few others that are also relatively easy to read and all go together. Pretty much anyone can read early Plato.