They discuss the role of Socrates' mother and Aspasia in his life, questioning the literal meaning of Socrates' claim to have followed in his mother's profession as a midwife. They explore the possibility of their meeting and consider the social status and activities of Socrates' mother. They highlight the contrast between serious biographers and comic playwrights in their portrayals of Aspasia.
In this episode, I speak about Socrates with Armand D'Angour, professor of classics at Oxford University. He is the translator of How to Innovate: An Ancient Guide to Creative Thinking (2021) and the author of Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher (2020), among other works.
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Highlights
* Why should we care about Socrates today?
* How reliable are our sources regarding Socrates?
* What was Socrates like as a young man?
* How do you imagine his relationship with Pericles and Aspasia?
* Why did Socrates love Alcibiades so much?
* Did Socrates have a mental illness?
* Why was Socrates executed?
Links
* Armand D’Angour’s website
* Socrates in Love: The Making of a Philosopher
Thank you for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.
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