Socratic Dialogues

Xenophon's Complete Records of His Teacher Socrates
First Full Translation from Ancient Greek to Chinese

Socrates, the founder of Western philosophy, left no writings of his own; we can only understand him through the accounts of his followers. Plato's records are the most famous, but another student of Socrates, Xenophon, also left valuable records. Compared to Plato's portrayal of Socrates as an almost saint-like figure, Xenophon presents his teacher as a "human being" beyond the abstract symbol of "wisdom": he was witty and engaging, self-disciplined and self-sufficient, pursuing both virtue and knowledge, and also familiar with hunting and farming. Xenophon was a legendary figure in ancient Greece—a philosopher, historian, and military general who miraculously led over ten thousand soldiers back to Greece from Persia. His diverse works were widely popular, admired by figures ranging from American founding father Thomas Jefferson to German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. This book includes all four of Xenophon's dialogues about Socrates: "Memorabilia" records the words and character of Socrates, "the best and happiest of men"; "Oeconomicus" is a dialogue about farming, showing Socrates' practical side; "Symposium" discusses love, illustrating that while Socrates rejected physical relationships, he never ceased to focus on "love"; and "Apology" records the dialogues and reactions of Socrates before and after he was sentenced to death.