Mnemosyne, Supplements- Plato's Apology of Socrates A Literary and Philosophical Study with a Running Commentary. Edited and Completed from the Papers of the Late E. de Strycker, S.J.

The Apology is analysed as a piece of philosophical rhetoric. It proves surprisingly close to the philosophy of Plato's main works and to fourth-century rhetorical theory and practice. This study also contains a detailed line-by-line commentary.



There have been many recent studies on the Apology. This book differs from them in that it attempts a synthesis of philosophical and literary approaches. A great deal of attention is paid to the philosophical and religious views that are present—often implicitly—in the text; they are much closer to the philosophy of Plato's main works than is usually assumed. But the Apology is also analysed as a rhetorical text: its close relationship with fourth-century rhetorical theory and practice is highlighted. The analyses of the various parts of the speech are followed by a detailed line-by-line commentary. The work was started by E. de Strycker, S.J.; after his death, it was revised and completed by S.R. Slings.