Classical Philosophy Reading Group

In the first session, we discussed Plato's Euthyphro. This situated Socrates in Athens awaiting trial on counts of impiety and corrupting the youth. He met Euthyphro outside the chief magistrates court and asked Euthyphro to help him try to understand the nature of piety and impiety.

This introduced us to the Socratic method and the object of its enquiry - the virtues. As is the way of Socrates he proved that although Euthyphro was sure he was pious - he was about to prosecute his own father for M**der - it became clear he had no way of explaining the nature of piety in general.

We left the dialogue with an impasse - so called Socratic ignorance. With neither Socrates or Euthyphro any clearer on the answer to the nature of piety.

And now to our second discussion which will focus Plato's Apology and the Crito.

In the Apology, Socrates sets out his defence against the charges brought by against by prominent members of the Athenian elite. As you will already know, it does not go Socrates' way and he is sentenced to death.

In the Crito, his friend Crito visits Socrates in J*il and pleads with him to escape. Socrates invokes the Laws of Athens as a character and argues he can not dismiss his commitment to the city of Athens.

In both these dialogues, we get a further chance to discuss the Socratic method and understand what it is that Socrates is so committed to that he is prepared to die for his opinions.

The death of Socrates is a monumental moment in the history of Western philosophy. Philosophers have argued over the rights and wrongs of Socrates' course of action ever since. But there is no doubt he and his student Plato have influenced all that has been thought on the nature of ethics and far wider issues ever since.

I hope you will join us in a chance to read and discuss these pivotal works in classical philosophy.

Host or Publisher David Perks