THIS CLASS IS FULL AND REGISTRATION IS CLOSED.

This 3-day course will examine the 399 BC trial of Socrates by way of the accounts offered by Plato and Xenophon. The course will have a historical, political, and philosophic focus with due account given to the free speech aspects of the case and will consider the following questions:

1. What exactly were the charges leveled against Socrates and what were his replies to them?
2. How strong was the prosecution’s case?
3. How convincing were Socrates’ arguments?
4. Was the guilty verdict of the Athenian jury warranted?
5. Was the jury’s death sentence warranted (and what of Socrates’ hubris)?
6. In The Clouds, Aristophanes is a named accuser of the old charges against Socrates; what are his criticisms of Socrates?
7. How much uninhibited free speech of the Socratic kind can any democracy (then or now) tolerate given the threats posed by the likes of Socrates?
8. Is philosophy, when taken seriously and publicly, compatible with democracy?

Michael Ormond studied under Leo Strauss (a noted political philosopher) at the University of Chicago and then did his graduate work at Cornell University under Allan Bloom (a noted student of Strauss’). He has taught classical political philosophy for decades, more recently in adult-education programs. Ronald Collins studied under Professor Ormond in his college years.  He is the Lewes Library’s Distinguished Lecturer and author of a dozen books.

To better ensure a robust discussion, attendees are encouraged to do a careful reading of the assigned texts. The amount of the assigned reading is relatively modest in length.  Assigned texts are:

• Four Texts on Socrates: Plato’s “Euthyphro,” “Apology of Socrates,” and “Crito” and Aristophanes’ “Clouds” by Thomas West. The library will have a copy of the book available to read in the library or to make copies. It also may be purchased at local, independent bookstore Browseabout Books.
• The Apology by Xenophon. This is available online for free or it may be purchased at Browseabout Books.  

Registration is required.