Description
Book SynopsisBetween Socrates and the Many: A Study of Plato's Crito is foremost concerned with Plato's character, Crito. By focusing on its namesake, Hoffpauir draws attention to aspects of the Crito that may otherwise go unnoticed or underrated: justice, as most know it, seems unjust, and justice, as Socrates knows it, seems impossible; love of one's own, as most know it, limits one's own good and the city's good; and concern for the body and hatred of suffering undermine virtue. Through a consideration of the problems evinced by Critoproblems not peculiar to him or to his Athensreaders may gain a newfound appreciation of why Socrates' arguments about living well fail. More importantly, by considering why Socrates must advance these arguments in the first place, readers may come to appreciate the strength of man's natural resistance to that which is necessary for civilized life. Although Crito initially comes to sight as in-between Socrates and the many, as one who shares in the opinions of b
Trade Review“J. Michael Hoffpauir's wonderful study is a painstaking, deeply thoughtful attempt to understand Plato's complex presentation of Crito, the long-time friend of Socrates who was present with the philosopher in his final days. Combining an unusual sensitivity to the details of the text with a humane understanding of the broader questions of life and death, duty and obligation, Between Socrates and Many will become a crucial contribution to the literature on the Crito and on Plato." -- Robert C. Bartlett, Boston College
“This welcome commentary on Plato’s Crito makes the fresh and radical move of ‘taking Crito seriously.’ Hoffpauir’s sensitive analysis of Crito’s character has the unsettling effect of showing readers just how similar they are to the dialogue’s namesake, who admires Socrates yet clings to non-philosophic opinions about the nature of justice and the fearsomeness of death. Crito is unhappily betwixt and between. Hoffpauir explores this ground (or rather this chasm) in Between Socrates and Many. His clear explication of the conversation’s many lines of argument reveals what is at stake for all concerned.” -- Diana J. Schaub, Loyola University Maryland
Table of Contents1 Taking Crito Seriously 2 Crito: A Character Study 3 Wake Up to Death 4 Crito’s Demand 5 The Argument about Opinions 6 Not Living, But Living Well, Is to Be Regarded as Most Important 7 No Human Being Should Do Injustice or Do Evil 8 Ought One to Do the Just Things One Agrees to Do? 9 The Laws’ Parental Argument 10 The Laws’ Agreement Argument 11 What Benefit Comes from Escape and Crito’s Silence 12 Conclusion
