Socrates

Voltaire, 1694-1778Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.1

Word count: 51K words
Chapters: 6

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Socrates by VoltaireAuthor: Voltaire, 1694-1778,Language: English, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Nov 1, 2003

Editor's review

Voltaire's Socrates is a short dialogue work centering on the death of Socrates, using the ancient Greek philosopher as a mouthpiece to discuss justice, faith, and the order of the city-state. As an Enlightenment thinker, Voltaire was not content to retell the Socrates of Plato; instead he sets him against religious prejudice and popular fanaticism, using the past to satirize the present and aiming his barbs at the clerical authority and intolerance of contemporary France. The book's highlights lie in its dramatic progression of dialogue and sharp satirical style, allowing readers to feel the intellectual tension characteristic of Enlightenment literature within a limited space. It serves well as an introductory read for understanding Voltaire's thought and Western Enlightenment literature, and also suits readers interested in the classic theme of the trial of Socrates. It is best read as a historical drama rather than a philosophical treatise, with attention to how the author uses the words of the ancients to express concerns of his own time. The Project Gutenberg edition is a public-domain English ebook, convenient for searching and rereading at any time.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Introductory readers interested in Western Enlightenment literature and Voltaire's works
Those who wish to learn about the classic theme of the trial of Socrates through literature
Readers seeking a short, quickly readable English public-domain book
Readers concerned with religious tolerance and freedom of speech who enjoy satirical style

Not a good fit for

Specialist readers seeking a systematic study of Socratic philosophy or Plato's thought
Readers who prefer long narrative plots and lack patience for dialogue-form works
Readers with limited English reading ability who are not comfortable with eighteenth-century argumentative prose

Reading tips

First learn the basic historical facts of the trial of Socrates, then enter the dialogue and understand Voltaire's intent in rewriting it.
While reading, note the satirical targets in the characters' lines and consider how the author uses the past to satirize the present.
Read alongside other Enlightenment literary works to compare how different writers treat the theme of religious tolerance.
The text is short; consider reading it in one sitting, then returning to key dialogue passages to take notes.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this Socrates a philosophical work or a literary one?

It is closer to a literary dialogue work, written by the Enlightenment author Voltaire. The author uses the subject of Socrates' trial and death to express criticism of religious prejudice and popular fanaticism, focusing on satire and argument rather than systematically expounding philosophical doctrine. Reading it as a thought-provoking historical drama will better match its intent.

Do I need to read Plato before reading this book?

Not necessarily. Voltaire does not retell Plato's dialogues verbatim; a general understanding of the historical facts—that Socrates was tried by the Athenian city-state and died by drinking poison—is enough to grasp the basic framework. If you have read Plato's Apology, it will be easier to see where Voltaire selects and rewrites the traditional account.

What kind of reading approach suits this edition?

This edition is a public-domain English ebook provided by Project Gutenberg. It is short, suitable for reading through once on an electronic device and then returning to key dialogue passages. If English reading is difficult, you can read alongside a Chinese translation or relevant background materials, focusing on the satire and argumentative logic in the dialogue.

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About the author

Voltaire, 1694-1778 Author

Voltaire (1694–1778) was a highly influential French writer and thinker of the Enlightenment, known for his sharp satire, witty argumentation, and lucid prose. The collection holds 44 of his works, including Candide, ou l'optimisme, Zadig, and Letters on England. Candide uses its protagonist's extraordinary adventures and black humour to question blind optimism; Zadig employs an Oriental tale to explore fate and reason; and Letters on England reflects on French religious and political conditions through observations of English society and thought. Spanning philosophical tales, letters, and essays, these works are concise yet trenchant in language and have had a profound influence on later European literature and the spread of Enlightenment ideas. Because public information is limited, details of his early life and specific biography are not elaborated here.