Socrates has a unique position in the history of philosophy It is no exaggeration to say that had it not been for his influence on Plato the whole development of Western philosophy might have bee unimaginably different Yet Socrates wrote nothing himself & our knowledge of him is derived primarily from the engaging & infuriating figure who appears in Plato's dialogues In this book Christopher Taylor explores the relationship between the historical Socrates & the Platonic character & examines the enduring image of Socrates as the ideal exemplar of the philosophic life
- a thinker whose moral & intellectual integrity permeated every detail of his life even in the face of betrayal & execution by his fellow Athenians ABOUT THE SERIES The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly Our expert authors combine facts analysis perspective new ideas & enthusiasm to make interesting & challenging topics highly readable