The Cambridge Companion to Socrates

by Donald R. Morrison

The Cambridge Companion to Socrates is a collection of essays providing a comprehensive guide to Socrates, the most famous Greek philosopher. Because Socrates himself wrote nothing, our evidence comes from the writings of his friends (above all Plato), his enemies, and later writers. Socrates is thus a literary figure as well as a historical person. Both aspects of Socrates’ legacy are covered in this volume. Socrates’ character is full of paradox, and so are his philosophical views. These paradoxes have led to deep differences in scholar’s interpretation of Socrates and his thought. Mirroring this wide range of thought about Socrates, this volume’s contributors are unusually diverse in their background and perspective. The essays in this volume were authored by classical philologists, philosophers, and historians from Germany, Francophone Canada, Britain, and the United States, and they represent a range of interpretive and philosophical traditions.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, History, Reference

436 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 2010

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve never given a two star review, much less one star. I would probably give a book on Relativity by a bird dog 2 stars…. And in fairness, I intentionally skipped through sections of the book to correspond to my readings of Plato, starting with Ion, Menon and then the Symposium. Chapter 7, “Why Eros?” By Suzanne Obdrzalek, Corresponds to the Symposium. It’s unbelievable. The chapter manages to not mention that the Symposium is 1) clearly denoted as hearsay by Plato and 2) its most dramatic component is the entry of the drunken Alcibiades. (Alcibiades speech is intensely degrading and pathetic…. So much so, that you have the impression the drunkard is actually being candid about what’s “Eros” for him…). Suzanne also talks about Plato’s views on Eros in the Symposium; however the minor fly in the ointment is Plato does not speak and was not there…. Honestly if the editor allows this type of content into his collection, he and the work is unreliable. Given this carries the “Cambridge” brand, it literally shakes my understanding of the credibility of much of “modern philosophic” commentary…. Maybe the sophist won. I’ll certainly be looking for thoughtful source of commentary.

[Stephan Naro · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lay-person, I learnt a lot from this volume, even from those chapter-essays that I don't think are quite as good as I'd like them to be. Discussions of ethics seem to me to be mere bandying about of words, with not enough clarity as to what exactly those words, like 'virtue', 'good', 'well-being', etc., supposedly, if at all, reference in human experience, and these discussions are no exception to that perennial problem.

[Harrison K Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review to come. I just wanted to say that there are three essays in here that are worth the price of the whole book - one on Socrates’ students, one on Socrates personal religious thought and spiritual practice, and, lastly, one on Socrates and eudaemonia. All three were excellent. The rest of the essays were just ok.

[Santiago Orellana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the essays deserve 5 stars, some of them less. Nevertheless learned a lot.

[Billie Pritchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cambridge Companion to Socrates is the best introduction to Socrates I have ever read. The chapters of the book are linked together well and have a clear progression. The first chapter begins with the so-called "Socratic problem," which involves trying to find the real Socrates in the historical literature, and the final chapter ends the book with Socrates' influence on the Greek philosophy that came after him.

My favorite chapter was Terry Penner's "Socratic Ethics and the Socratic Psychology of Action." It's a fine example of the quality of work in the book. It details Socrate' account of human behavior and shows that issues related to living the good life are integrally tied to what it means to be a human being, according to Socrates.

Highly recommended.

[Teerabhat Ruensiri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe that this book deserve 3.5 but goodreads' rating system is...

This is a good introduction, especially considering it's on a difficult subject like Socrates. The authors treat him fairly. There is neither hero worship nor condemnation. However, I believe that this book can use better editing. I find certain passage to be more suitable for journal than a companion. I understand that Cambridge Companion isn't exactly Socrates for dummy, but Socrates is probably the first philosopher for most people and this may scare them away. This complexity should be fine in, say, Companion to Aristotle.