Socrates: A Very Short Introduction

• Socrates is one of the most important figures in the history of Western Philosophy, but also one of the least known.
• Christopher Taylor explores the relationship between the historical Socrates and the Platonic character.
• Taylor is a Reader in Philosophy at Oxford University and an authority on may aspects of ancient philosophy.
• First published as part of the Past Masters series; now reissued as a Very Short Introduction, along with other new philosophy titles in the series.

Readership: The general reader interested in philosophy and its history; undergraduate students of ancient philosophy, and of ancient history.

Christopher Taylor, Fellow, Corpus Christi College, Oxford

Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; 1. Introduction; 2. Life: Trial and Death; 3. Socratic Literature and the Socratic Problem: i. Authors other than Plato; ii. Plato; 4. Plato's Socrates: i. Socrates' disavowal of wisdom; ii. Definition; iii. Ethics; iv. Socrates and the Sophists; 5. Socrates and Later Philosophy: i. Ancient Philosophy; ii. Medieval and Modern Philosophy; 6. Conclusion; Endnotes; Further Reading; Index.