SYMPOSIUM AND THE DEATH OF SOCRATES

InSymposium,agroupofAthenianaristocratsattendapartyandtalkaboutlove,untilthedrunkenAlcibiadesburstsinanddecidestodiscussSocratesinstead.SymposiumgivesanunsurpassedpictureofthesparklingsocietythatwasAthensattheheightofherempire.Thesettingoftheotherdialoguesismoresombre.Socratesisputontrialforimpiety,andsentencedtodeath.Euthyphrodiscussesthenatureofpiety,ApologyisSocrates'speechinhisowndefence,Critoexplainshisrefusaltoescapepunishment,andPhaedogivesanaccountofSocrates'lastday.Thesedialogueshaveneverbeenofferedinonevolumebefore.TomGriffith'sSymposiumhasbeendescribedas'possiblythefinesttranslationofanyPlatonicdialogue'.Alltheothertranslationsarenew.