One can much more readily see from Plato’s account of the Trial why Socrates was in trouble. . [4], The stylistic differences between the Socratic dialogues the Apology of Socrates to the Jury, by Xenophon, and the Apology of Socrates, by Plato, is in the literary descriptions of the philosopher, by the Oracle at Delphi; in Xenophon's dialogue, the Oracle said that there was no man “more free, more just, or more sound of mind” than Socrates;[5] in Plato’s dialogue, the Oracle said that there was no man “wiser” than Socrates. He would ask, also, concerning such philosophers, whether, as those who have learned arts practiced by men, expect that they will be able to carry into effect what they have learned, either for themselves, or for any one else whom they may wish, so those who inquire into celestial things, imagine that, when they have discovered by what laws everything is effected, they will be able to produce, whenever they please, wind, rain, changes of the seasons, and whatever else of that sort they may desire, or whether they have no such expectation, but are content merely to know how everything of that nature is generated. He has taught history, writing, literature, and philosophy at the college level. Although nothing is said explicitly of Anytus’ son on that occasion, Anytus is offended by what he considers Socrates’ improper disparagement again and again of the Athenian way of life. That account, unlike Xenophon’s account, is by someone who had even been present for the trial. It is there that Socrates emphasized the inability of Athenians of recognized virtue to train properly their own sons. ( Log Out /  Xenophon apparently went to Delphi and instead asked the Oracle which of the gods would be most profitable to pray to for a successful expedition and safe return home. Submitted by Joshua J. Most people say that they are diverted from an object, or prompted to it, by birds, or by the people who meet them; but Socrates spoke as he thought, for he said it was the divinity that was his monitor. 5. 16. Passage 6 below seems to reference a famous story concerning the young Xenophon and his teacher Socrates: Xenophon asked Socrates whether he should join the expedition of Cyrus the Younger against his brother Artaxerxes II of Persia. It was only afterwards that the reputation of Plato, shining forth by his life, and because he subjected natural necessity to divine and more excellent principles, took away the obloquy and scandal that had attached to such contemplations, and obtained these studies currency among all people. The Ancient History Encyclopedia logo is a registered EU trademark. Xenophon’s works includes a selection of Socratic dialogues; these writings are completely preserved. The obviously authoritative account of that trial, for almost two and a half millennia now, has been Plato’s Apology of Socrates. Xenophon’s other famous work, Memorabilia, deals in part with his memories of Socrates, and in the passage below, he addresses Socrates’ trial and execution by the Athenians in 399 BCE. But who, in such matters, would trust to any one but a god? A further decade of undiminished intellectual powers seems to be available to the Platonic Socrates. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. For he thought that the gods paid regard to men, not in the way in which some people suppose, who imagine that the gods know some things and do not know others, but he considered that the gods know all things, both what is said, what is done, and what is meditated in silence, and are present everywhere, and give admonitions to men concerning everything human. Xenophon's Socrates is less ironical in his treatment of others, more down to earth, more amiable and maybe more imitable than Plato's Socrates. It is almost as if he is courting death at this time. 14. Xenophon’s determined (if not even ostentatious) piety is evident throughout his own career. This source is a little troublesome because Hermogenes' role is described by Plato in a way that raises some inconsistency. Xenophon’s portrait of Socrates in four loosely topic-organized books is known as Memorabilia. This is evident throughout the Memorabilia where Socrates takes the initiative on various subjects with a number of acquaintances, challenging some of their attitudes and practices. Indeed, Plato identifies himself as one of those prepared to contribute to a monetary fine if that should have been decided to be the penalty levied against Socrates upon having been convicted. Last modified January 18, 2012. Xenophon (430-354 BCE) was an early disciple of Socrates and a contemporary of Plato. Socrates' Prison, Athensby Mark Cartwright (CC BY-NC-SA). It can be instructive as well to notice how the Socratic daimonic thing is recalled both by Plato and by Xenophon. On the other hand, uncertainties about how Xenophon himself should be regarded are indicated by the virtual silence of Aristotle about Xenophon, in contrast to the considerable use made by him of Plato. Both have Chaerephon going to Delphi with questions about Socrates. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. 18. The Symposium outlines the character of Socratesas he and his companions discuss what attribute they take pride in. When, for example, did Aristophanes begin to take that notice of Socrates which led to his comedy, The Clouds, in which Socrates is shown both challenging conventional stories about the gods and as disturbing traditional family relations? The Anabasis has long been considered a classic and was used by Alexander the Great as a field guide for … We can recall, for example, how much the youthful Xenophon in Persia is displayed throughout the Anabasis as respectful of conventional religious beliefs, omens, and rituals. https://www.ancient.eu/article/152/. Yet no one ever either saw Socrates doing, or heard him saying, anything impious or profane; for he did not dispute about the nature of things as most other philosophers disputed, speculating how that which is called by sophists the world was produced, and by what necessary laws everything in the heavens is effected, but endeavored to show that those who chose such subjects of contemplation were foolish. We do know that the work of Xenophon was once much better regarded in Europe than it is now (with an author such as Niccolo Machiavelli making more use of him than of any other author from antiquity except for Livy). It can be wondered (without much help available from scholars) what each of these two authors knew of the other’s career and writings. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/article/152/. License. The following passage is from the 1883 translation by J.S. Ancient History Encyclopedia. It can seem that hardly a page in the Memorabilia goes by without some recognition of the divinities routinely drawn on by the Athenians, something that this sophisticated English translation “religiously” avoids recording. But, on the other hand, we can wonder whether anyone with the busybodyish tendencies that Xenophon insists on displaying in Socrates could personally develop and sustain a significant career of philosophical inquiry into the enduring questions. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. Xenophon has the daimonion providing much more direction as to what Socrates should do, testifying in still another way how conventionally pious Xenophon’s Socrates was in appearance, so pious indeed that he is rarely if ever explicitly shown as doing what Plato’s Socrates does when he questions (as in Plato’s Republic) some of the stories about the gods related by the poets.

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