Socrates

Socrates

A Beginner's Guide to the Life, Ideas, and Lasting Impact of Socrates, Including the Socratic Method and the Famous Declaration That the Unexamined Life Is Not Worth LivingBy Alex Omberg
Michael Caine
Listen with Sir Michael Caine™ and 1,000+ voices
Length2h 6m

About this audiobook

This beginner's guide unravels the puzzle of Socrates, the foundational yet enigmatic figure of Western philosophy who never wrote a single word. Confronting the "Socratic Problem," the book explores how we understand this pivotal thinker through the varied accounts of Plato, Xenophon, and Aristophanes. It demystifies his revolutionary approach to truth, detailing the famous Socratic Method and the profound wisdom behind his claim to "know nothing." The guide delves into his core ethical teachings—that virtue is knowledge and that "the unexamined life is not worth living"—framing them within the dramatic context of his life as the "gadfly" of Athens, his trial, and his principled death.

Audiobook details

Rating★★★★★ 5.0 (1)
GenrePhilosophy, Biography and Memoir
Length2 hrs 6 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateAug 17, 2025
LanguageEnglish

Table of contents

1Preface
10The Trial of Socrates: Democracy's Dilemma
2The Gadfly of Athens: A Life in Questions
11The Death of Socrates: Choosing Principle Over Life
3The Oracle’s Riddle: What It Means to Know Nothing
12The Socratic Legacy: From Plato to Modern Education
4The Socratic Method: Questioning for Truth
13Socratic Teaching in the Modern World
5Virtue and the Care of the Soul
14The Problem of Other Minds: Knowing Ourselves and Others
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6The Unity of Virtues: Why Good Character Comes as a Package
15Socratic Humility in an Age of Information
7Socratic Irony: The Art of Productive Confusion
16Becoming Your Own Socrates: A Personal Practice
8The Examined Life: Philosophy as a Way of Living
17Conclusion
9Socrates and Religion: Between Piety and Blasphemy

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