The Bloomsbury Companion to Socrates

Socrates, the largely enigmatic Greek thinker, is universally considered to have laid the foundations of western philosophy. His philosophy, available to us through the early dialogues of Plato and the writings of his contemporaries, has had a remarkably enduring influence on virtually every area of philosophical enterprise.

This comprehensive and accessible guide to Socrates life and death, character and philosophical concerns, features thirteen specially commissioned sections, written by a team of leading experts in the field of ancient philosophy, covering every aspect of Socratic thought. The Companion presents a comprehensive overview of the various features, themes and topics apparent in Socrates' thought, including Socratic irony, metaphysics, epistemology, happiness, virtue, moral psychology, philosophy of love, political philosophy, and religious belief. It concludes with a thoroughly comprehensive bibliography of primary and secondary sources. This is an essential reference tool for anyone working in the field of ancient philosophy.

John Bussanich is Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Mexico, USA. He is the author ofThe One and its Relation to Intellect in Plotinus (Brill, 1988) and co-editor of the journalAncient Philosophy.

Nicholas D. Smith is Professor of Philosophy at Lewis and Clark College, USA. His many publications includeAncient Philosophy: Essential Readings with Commentary (with F. Allhof and A. Vaidya, Blackwell, 2008),Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Plato and the Trial of Socrates (with T. Brickhouse, Routledge, 2004),The Trial and Execution of Socrates (edited and translated with T. Brickhouse, OUP, 2002) andReason and Religion in Socratic Philosophy (with P. Woodruff, OUP, 2000).