Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher
Author: Armand D’Angour
Socrates is probably one of the best well-known names in the history of philosophy. He is considered a father of sorts of Western philosophy as we currently understand it. He has been immortalised by his contribution to the world of thought and yet we know little about the early years of his life and the events that led him to become one of the greatest thinkers in history.
None of his written work survives. What we know about him and the transcriptions of what have been credited as being his speeches we know thanks to Plato and Xenophon, two of his pupils. The one event of Socrates that many people are familiar with is the moment of his death – he was convicted of venerating false gods and corrupting youth and had to drink hemlock, a poison.
In Socrates in Love, D’Angour analyses what has been written about Socrates and what we know about the time during which he lived to bring together this well researched account of what his life must have been like. He was a son, he was an athlete, he loved music and dance and he was a soldier. But what led him to pursue the simple life of a tutor and philosopher?
Love, is D’Angour’s answer. Love seems to be the driving force behind some of his better known speeches and his most heroic actions in battle. His love for the young Arcibiades led him to rescue him during a war. And he credits a woman with being his teacher – a woman that is not directly named but is believed to be Aspasia.
Socrates in Love is an incredibly entertaining short and to the point account of Socrates’ life that will of no doubt be of interest to philosophy enthusiasts!
> Naomi Round
