The Great Philosophers: Socrates - Anthony Gottlieb
Written by
Anthony Gottlieb
The author of this little book does not seem to be a Christian, and its subject wasn’t either: Socrates lived and died several hundred years before Jesus was born. But it’s fascinating to get insight into the way the Greek philosophers tried to apply their wisdom and insight to the idea of self improvement and living a moral life. And it seems like none did that more than Socrates.
Reading about Socrates helped me understand something. Ever since men could think, they have thought about improving themselves - about reaching for something higher. They’ve done it by conquering nations, by building monuments to themselves and by trying to live by virtuous codes. But they simply couldn’t change anything; they couldn’t change the human heart. Anthony Gottlieb didn’t write this account in order to show that, but it’s what I can see from it.
Because it involves philosophy, much of it is conceptual, which does make it hard to follow sometimes.
I would only recommend it as further reading for someone who is interested in history, philosophy, and the schools of thought that have shaped modern thinking.
Yes, without reservation!
It’s not very directly edifying; in other words, it’s not a book about Jesus or living a godly life. But it has value in as much as it adds a puzzle piece to the way many people think today, and where particular schools of thought come from. If philosophy is not your thing, this book won’t change that. But if you want to understand some of the great minds of the ancient world and why they still couldn’t fix themselves, this has some benefit.
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