Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 10.2 To the Victor the SpoilsAs one might expect, at the end of the Peloponnesian War, the victorious Spartans imposed their own regimes on subject states, usually with…1d ago1d ago
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 10.1 Cyrus’ ExpeditionAt the beginning of the fourth century BC, Sparta was the dominant city of Greece. As the leader of the Peloponnesian League, she had…2d ago2d ago
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.7 Socrates’ Philosophical LegacyPlato sees himself as a product of Socrates’ education. Socrates claimed not to be a teacher or to have students. But he certainly had…5d ago5d ago
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.6 Plato’s Re-Creation of SocratesIt is an important historical and biographical fact that Plato started out writing his dialogues as part of a movement by the followers of…Aug 2Aug 2
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.5 Plato’s Portrayals of SocratesNow instead of meeting one Socrates, we are in danger of meeting many. This work, however, is a study of Plato, not of his fellow…Jul 31Jul 31
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.4.4 Socrates as a Moral PhilosopherPlato’s Socrates (as the student portrays his master in his early or Socratic dialogues) is an ambiguous figure. He seeks tirelessly to…Jul 29Jul 29
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.4.3 Socrates as a Perpetual SeekerOne important and viable interpretation of the historical Socrates is as a perennial seeker of wisdom, particularly an adequate…Jul 262Jul 262
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.4.2 Socrates Among the Natural PhilosophersBefore there were sophists, there were natural philosophers. Starting with Thales around 600 BC and continuing down to Socrates’ time, a…Jul 241Jul 241
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.4 Who Is Socrates?It is easy to get lost in the marvel that is Socrates. Affable, idiosyncratic, self-deprecatory, incurably curious, logical to a fault…Jul 22Jul 22
Daniel W. Graham, PhDinThe First PhilosophersPlato 9.3 Socrates ImprisonedIn the sequel to Plato’s Apology of Socrates, the dialogue Crito, we meet Socrates in prison.[9] Executions in Athens occur soon after a…Jul 19Jul 19