THE MEMORABLE THOUGHTS OF SOCRATES IBD

Sinopsis

Memorabilia (original title) is a collection of Socratic dialogues by Xenophon, a student of Socrates. The lengthiest and most famous of XenophonâÇÖs Socratic writings, the Memorabilia is essentially an apologia (defense) of Socrates, differing from both XenophonâÇÖs Apology of Socrates to the Jury and PlatoâÇÖs Apology mainly in that the Apologies present Socrates as defending himself before the jury, whereas the former presents XenophonâÇÖs own defense of Socrates, offering edifying examples of SocratesâÇÖ conversations and activities along with occasional commentary from Xenophon.áMemorabilia is also known by its Latin title Commentarii and a variety of English translations (Recollections, Memoirs, Conversations of Socrates, etc.).áXenophonâÇÖs Socrates is more likely to give practical advice than to ask probing philosophical questions, and Xenophon is more interested in defending Socrates than in developing his philosophy. Where PlatoâÇÖs Socrates emphasizes self-knowledge, XenophonâÇÖs Socrates speaks more of self-control. Yet the Memorabilia also contains charming set-pieces (including SocratesâÇÖ conversation with the glamorous courtesan (hetaera) Theodote in III.11, and his sharp exchanges with two of the Thirty Tyrants in I.2). And Xenophon likely aimed to reach a wider range of readers, many of whom may have welcomed the more down-to-earth advice his Socrates gives.áXenophonâÇÖs portrayal of Socrates was influential in antiquity, and helps us understand how various schools of ancient thought made use of Socrates. The self-control of XenophonâÇÖs Socrates is in keeping with his role in inspiring ancient cynicism, which was traditionally said to be founded by SocratesâÇÖ follower Antisthenes. It is clear that the Stoics made considerable use of XenophonâÇÖs version of the argument from design, and their account of natural law also owed something to Socrates, if not only to XenophonâÇÖs Socrates.áAside from Plato and Aristophanes, Xenophon is the only contemporary of Socrates whose writings on the latter are extant.áXenophonâÇÖs account of how Heracles had to choose between Virtue and Vice, a story he attributes to Prodicus, became a popular motif in ancient Greek and Roman culture. It became popular again in the Renaissance. (wikipedia.org)