The Last Days of Socrates
Socrates, the great ancient Greek philosopher who loved wisdom and strongly influenced Plato and Western Civilization, was accused of impiety and of corrupting the youth of Athens and was condemned to die.
Famed for his obsessive focus on wisdom, the good life, and the soul, he eschewed living merely for economic or material gain and believed that behaving wickedly is worse than dying.
At his trial, Socrates said: “But I suggest, gentlemen, that the difficulty is not so much to escape death; the real difficulty is to escape from wickedness, which is far more fleet of foot.”
Socrates believed human wisdom alone was insufficient for the good life, that wisdom requires being aware of one’s ignorance, and that the unexamined life was not worth living.
The Last Days of Socrates features four well-known dialogues attributed to Plato that take place during Socrates’ trial and death.
- Euthyphro: Socrates is on his way to court; he and Euthyphro discuss the nature of holiness or piety, which Socrates believes is a form of justice.
- Apology is Socrates’ trial defense before an Athenian jury. Certainly, the most famous and read of all the dialogues.
- Crito: A pupil and friend tries to persuade Socrates to escape from prison and execution. Socrates argues that escaping would be unjust, as it would overturn his city’s laws.
- Phaedo concerns Socrates about to die. Among friends, he seeks to prove the immortality of the soul.
These are not dry philosophical treatises; they are enjoyable, literary masterpieces that provoke serious thought about important questions.
The Last Battle
A great deception threatens to destroy Narnia. The good King Tirian struggles against a tide of evil characters, including an ape, a cat, and a military commander. The children once again find themselves called to Narnia at its most desperate hour.
The final scenes are some of the greatest in all English literature. As Aslan brings Narnia to a close, he becomes a doorway to a new and better Narnia that alludes to the new heavens and earth of the Bible, and Plato’s perfect forms and realities.
This is a scary, stunningly beautiful, and unforgettable read.
C.S. Lewis combines myth, Arthurian romance literature, journey, and Christian allegory, deepening readers’ understanding of what is real, true, good, and beautiful.
Justice Clarence Thomas Speech on Declaration of Independence
As we near America’s 250th birthday, I recommend this speech to your high school and middle school students.
Clarence Thomas And The Lost Constitution
Award-winning historian Myron Magnet tells the story of Justice Clarence Thomas’ upbringing, intellectual journey, and judicial philosophy. Raised by his grandparents, Thomas rose from crushing poverty, segregation, oppression, and political radicalism to become one of America’s greatest and most consequential legal minds.
After reading this book, your student will have a better understanding of America’s founding ideals, the historical and judicial shifts that fundamentally changed America’s constitutional system, and Thomas’ efforts to restore America’s original constitutional worldview that protects God-given natural rights and promotes individual responsibility and prosperity.
This was truly a fascinating, moving, and enlightening read.
What Does Education Enable?
What Does it Mean to Be Educated?
Please subscribe. Upcoming episodes:
- What does it mean to be educated?
- What does an education enable? (What does an education enable a student to enjoy, become, and do?)
- How does one become educated? (What knowledge is needed, what skills are needed, what needs to be understood, and by what methods?)
- Is it possible to measure the degree to which one is educated? (Is the quantity and quality of one’s education measured by what one knows, understands, does, behaves, loves, or something else?)
- How can a student enjoy the process of becoming educated? (Or is it only possible to enjoy life after school?)
- What if one does not have a strong education? (What can he or she do to catch up during or after high school?)
Crito
Crito follows the Apology, Socrates’ trial defense. Wrongly accused of promoting bad religion and corrupting the youth of Athens, he was condemned to die. While in prison, Crito, his friend, tries to persuade Socrates to escape, arguing that anything less would be unjust.
Socrates argues that it would be unjust to disregard his city’s government and laws. Stating that the city’s legal regime gave him life (via marriage laws), education, and happiness, if there is no legal recourse, and if he is unsuccessful in persuading city officials, he must submit to the law.
He believes that any decision to escape would not only be unjust but would also cost him all credibility in a foreign land.
This guy explains Crito well.
In the Apology, Socrates admitted that if he were set free or banished, he would continue to have conversations with people about living well. The very conversations that led to his trial. Socrates was more concerned about doing what was right and just than what was politically correct. At the same time, if condemned, he would not seek to escape the city illegally.
The Dark History Behind Your Favorite Fantasy Books
Apology
Perhaps the most well-known of all the dialogues of the first great Greek philosopher.
Socrates has been accused of corrupting the youth with bad ideas and bad religion. In this dialogue (written by his most famous student, Plato), Socrates defends himself in court.
He argues that his marketplace conversations were intended to illuminate the path of wisdom and living well. He explains why the gods consider him wiser than others, and he endeavors to help his countrymen realize they are not living as wisely as they believe.
Far from corrupting the youth, he urged his countrymen to live for moral rather than practical gain, to examine what is best for the soul, and to be more concerned about what is just rather than how to prolong their lives.
Socrates argues that the gods considered him the wisest because he realized he was not. And that human wisdom is not sufficient for living well. He angered his fellow citizens by revealing their lack of wisdom.
A high school student (10th grade +) can read this dialogue in one or two sittings. This dialogue can be read many times, enjoyably and helpfully.
Socrates was the first great Greek philosopher. He pursued wisdom, endeavored to answer life’s big questions, and showed others how to live wisely. His most famous pupil, Plato, recorded his final days in dialogues such as Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito.
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