A review by smalius
The Last Days of Socrates by Plato
4.0
What is there to say about these dialogues that hasn't been repeated ad nauseum for millenia? Plato's ability to weave compelling dramatic tension with fascinating philosophical inquiry is obviously unmatched, particularly in The Apology and Phaedo. Time and time again he will present you with so audacious a metaphysical concept that you feel almost inclined to reject it out of hand, and yet by the end of the text you'll find yourself absolutely whisked away by the argumentation with far fewer reservations than you might have expected.
Even when his reasoning doesn't quite come together in a convincing manner, such as in the Crito, you still come away swamped in a deep contemplation on subjects and perspectives previously all but completely unconsidered. Thats the genius of Plato (or at least one aspect of it) - in the socratic spirit, it is absolutely impossible to come away from reading his work without intellectually probing aspects of the human experience, whether intentionally or not.
Even when his reasoning doesn't quite come together in a convincing manner, such as in the Crito, you still come away swamped in a deep contemplation on subjects and perspectives previously all but completely unconsidered. Thats the genius of Plato (or at least one aspect of it) - in the socratic spirit, it is absolutely impossible to come away from reading his work without intellectually probing aspects of the human experience, whether intentionally or not.