APOLOGY: The Defense of Socrates

by Plato Socrates: How have you felt, O men of Athens, at hearing the speeches of my accusers, I cannot tell; but I know that their persuasive words almost made me forget who I was: – such was the effect of them; and yet they have hardly spoken a word of truth. But many as

CRITO: Socrates in Prison

by Plato Persons of the Dialogue: Socrates, Crito Scene: The Prison of Socrates Socrates: Why have you come at this hour, Crito? it must be quite early. Crito: Yes, certainly. Socrates: What is the exact time? Crito: The dawn is breaking. Socrates: I wonder the keeper of the prison would let you in. Crito:

PHAEDO: The Last Day of Socrates’ Life

by Plato PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Phaedo, who is the narrator of the dialogue to Echecrates of Phlius, Socrates, Attendant of the prison, Apollodorus, Simmias, Cebes, Crito. SCENE: The Porch of the King Archon. PLACE OF THE NARRATION: Phlius Echecrates: Were you yourself, Phaedo, in the prison with Socrates on the day when he drank

The Republic – Part 01: Of Wealth, Justice, Moderation, and their Opposites

by Plato Persons of the Dialogue: Socrates, who is the narrator, Glacon, Adeimantus, Polemarchus, Cephalus, Thrasymachus, Cleitophon, and others who are mute auditors. The scene is laid in the house of Cephalus at the Piraeus; and the whole dialogue is narrated by Socrates the day after it actually took place to Timaeus Hermocrates, Critias,

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The Republic – Part 02: The Individual, the State, and Education

by Plato With these words I was thinking that I had made an end of the discussion; but the end, in truth, proved to be only a beginning. For Glaucon, who is always the most pugnacious of men, was dissatisfied at Thrasymachus’s retirement; he wanted to have the battle out. So he said to

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The Republic – Part 03: The Arts in Education

by Plato Such, then, I said, are our principles of theology – some tales are to be told, and others are not to be told to our disciples from their youth upward, if we mean them to honor the gods and their parents, and to value friendship with one another. Yes; and I think

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The Republic – Part 04: Wealth, Poverty, and Virtue

by Plato Here Adeimantus interposed a question: How would you answer, Socrates, said he, if a person were to say that you are making these people miserable, and that they are the cause of their own unhappiness; the city in fact belongs to them, but they are none the better for it; whereas other

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The Republic – Part 05: On Matrimony and Philosophy

by Plato SUCH is the good and true City or State, and the good and true man is of the same pattern; and if this is right every other is wrong; and the evil is one which affects not only the ordering of the State, but also the regulation of the individual soul, and

The Republic – Part 06: The Philosophy of Government

by Plato And thus, Glaucon, after the argument has gone a weary way, the true and the false philosophers have at length appeared in view. I do not think, he said, that the way could have been shortened. I suppose not, I said; and yet I believe that we might have had a better

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The Republic – Part 07: On Shadows and Realities in Education

by Plato And now, I said, let me show in a figure how far our nature is enlightened or unenlightened: Behold! human beings living in an underground den, which has a mouth open toward the light and reaching all along the den; here they have been from their childhood, and have their legs and

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The Republic – Part 08: Four Forms of Government

by Plato And so, Glaucon, we have arrived at the conclusion that in the perfect State wives and children are to be in common; and that all education and the pursuits of war and peace are also to be common, and the best philosophers and the bravest warriors are to be their kings? That,

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The Republic – Part 09: On Wrong or Right Government, and the Pleasures of Each

by Plato Last of all comes the tyrannical man; about whom we have once more to ask, how is he formed out of the democratical? and how does he live, in happiness or in misery? Yes, he said, he is the only one remaining. There is, however, I said, a previous question which remains

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The Republic – Part 10: The Recompense of Life

by Plato Of the many excellences which I perceive in the order of our State, there is none which upon reflection pleases me better than the rule about poetry. To what do you refer? To the rejection of imitative poetry, which certainly ought not to be received; as I see far more clearly now

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The Consolation of Philosophy – Book I

by Boethieus ‘To pleasant songs my work was erstwhile given, and bright were all my labours then; but now in tears to sad refrains am I compelled to turn. Thus my maimed Muses guide my pen, and gloomy songs make no feigned tears bedew my face. Then could no fear so overcome to leave

The Consolation of Philosophy – Book II

by Boethieus Then for a while she held her peace. But when her silence, so discreet, made my thoughts to cease from straying, she thus began to speak: ‘If I have thoroughly learned the causes and the manner of your sickness, your former good fortune has so affected you that you are being consumed

The Consolation of Philosophy – Book III

by Boethieus When she finished her lay, its soothing tones left me spellbound with my ears alert in my eagerness to listen. So a while afterwards I said, ‘Greatest comforter of weary minds, how have you cheered me with your deep thoughts and sweet singing too! No more shall I doubt my power to

The Consolation of Philosophy – Book IV

by Boethieus Thus gently sang the Lady Philosophy with dignified mien and grave countenance; and when she ceased, I, who had not thoroughly forgotten the grief within me, interrupted her as she was about to speak further.’ Herald of true light,’ I said,’ right clear have been the outpourings of your speech till now,

The Consolation of Philosophy – Book V

by Boethieus Here she made an end and was for turning the course of her speaking to the handling and explaining of other subjects. Then said I: ‘Your encouragement is right and most worthy in truth of your name and weight. But I am learning by experience what you just now said of Providence;

On Liberty – Chapter 1: Introductory

by John Stuart Mill The subject of this Essay is not the so-called Liberty of the Will, so unfortunately opposed to the misnamed doctrine of Philosophical Necessity; but Civil, or Social Liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual. A question seldom stated, and

On Liberty – Chapter 2: Of the liberty of thought and discussion

by John Stuart Mill The time, it is to be hoped, is gone by when any defence would be necessary of the “liberty of the press” as one of the securities against corrupt or tyrannical government. No argument, we may suppose, can now be needed, against permitting a legislature or an executive, not identified