Review by Choice Review
The elusive figure of Socrates remains a debatable turning-point in the history of philosophy. In How Socrates Became Socrates, Lampert (Indiana Univ., Purdue) positions Socrates as the first Nietzschean, a polymath, who was massively skeptical, yet tireless in self-criticism; armed with a persistent sense of wonder, his idealistic "second sailing" entailed a creative way of doing philosophy that kept him grounded in the life-affirming charms of common life. Refreshingly old-fashioned, Lampert's approach runs counter to recent studies in ancient historiography that anchor their realistic interpretation of Socrates in the socioeconomic interpretation of ancient texts that blurs the line between the "Socratic circle," those who traded ideas for hospitalities, and the sophists, those who traded ideas for money. Lampert's close reading presents a compellingly argued defense of the view that Socrates and Plato are united in their opposition to the sophists and are, essentially, synonymous. Lampert's study concludes with the intriguing suggestion that Plato's literary defense of Socrates, and Socrates's willingness to act the part, became "humanity's highest gift" to future generations, inspiring even the young Nietzsche to affirm similar, existential choices. Fascinating to read and intriguing to ponder, Lampert's book will spark renewed debate about European philosophy's first global celebrity. Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty. --John G. Moore, Lander University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
