Memorabilia, Vol. IV

1749

Shoults Eb 1749 X

[Oxford]: Jacobi Fletcher

‘The legacy of Greece to Western philosophy is Western philosophy’ (Barnes) and the first of the ‘Big Three’ philosophers of the ancient world is Socrates (469-399 BC). Xenophon (430-354 BC), one of his pupils, wrote Memorabilia (c. 371 BC), which is basically a treatise in defence of Socrates. Since Socrates left no writing extant, it provides some details, along with Plato’s Dialogues, of the philosopher’s life and work. Socrates promoted the in-depth analysis of commonly held beliefs and regarded free public discussion and free thought as fundamental for society. But not everyone was a fan. Aristophanes (445-386 BC) satirised Socrates in his play The Clouds (first performed in 423 BC) and Plato believed that this contributed to Socrates’ subsequent trial and execution.