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"Plato; The Last Days of Socrates"
(Penguin Classics - tr. Hugh Tredennick)
Reviewed by Matthew Shepard
This book contains the following works of Plato: "Euthyphro", "The
Apology", "Crito", "Phaedo". It is an excellent introduction to the
early writings of Plato, when he was still largely concerned to
preserve and protect the memory of his mentor, Socrates; these
writings show little of the later systematic philosophy of Plato (as
found, for instance, in the "Republic") - only in the "Phaedo" does
part of a more speculative philosophy emerge.
With these writings, we are presented with a portrait of the last
days of Socrates. We are introduced to Socrates awaiting trial,
arguing about moral duty with Euthyphro; we hear Socrates defending
himself at his trial, listen to his friends trying to persuade him to
escape from prison, and hear his last testament before his acceptance
of death.