Socrates and His Demise: An Examination of the Historical Figure

This book explores the circumstances surrounding Socrates’ death, critically analysing conflicting sources to establish a framework for understanding his intellectual activities in the cultural, political, and religious context of 5th-century BC Athens.

What were the circumstances surrounding the death of Socrates? What do we know of his life and ideas? This book offers readers an understanding of the history and current landscape of Socratic studies while guiding them through the intricate historical context of Socrates’ life, death, and philosophy. By closely examining the reasons behind his trial and conviction for impiety in 399 BCE, we can develop a more thorough understanding of Socrates’ philosophy, as well as address the contradictions and fictional elements in his portrayals.

Socrates and his Demise provides a fascinating re-assessment of Socrates and his death, of interest to students and scholars of Socrates and Socratic philosophy, as well as those working on the intellectual culture of 5th-century Athens and Classical Studies more broadly.

Otto H. Linderborg is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Mid Sweden University, Sweden, specialising in ancient political philosophy. He has previously published numerous articles and books in various languages on key ancient Greek authors such as Herodotus, Thucydides, and Polycarp.