Pam asked:

i was wondering what kind (and I mean the titles) of books did Socrates write and how did he teach
his students?

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Easy question, Pam. Socrates never wrote anything down. the only reason we know what he said to
his students is because Plato (a philosopher in his own right but also a pupil of Socrates) wrote
several works. Many were written in so-called "Socratic dialogue" form, meant to mimic the style
Socrates used when he taught. Socrates tended to wander around market places in Athens and went
up to people asking them difficult questions, such as, "What is happiness?" He also had a school.
Socratic dialogues involved questions and answers during which Socrates usually managed to have
his adversary contradict themselves and prove his point. It's worth your reading sections from Plato's
Gorgiasto get an idea of how Socrates taught. (besides, it's on the yr 12 reading list for next year!)
you could also check out Bryan Magee's Story of Philosophy(great book, costs about 30 Dollars but
covers heaps of history and has amazing illustrations) and/ or Jostein Gaarder's Sophie's World— he
talks about Socrates at length.

I teach year 11 and year 12 philosophy and you can email me direct if you like. I am impressed that
you are trying to do the work yourself rather than just posting your essay topic and hoping someone
else will write it for you. Are you in Victoria? would your school be interested in corresponding with
another year 11 class?

Lyn Renwood

Socrates didn't write. Plato wrote books in which he depicted Socrates as a teacher who taught by
discussing philosophical problems, questioning and trying to bring people to think for themselves.
Look up Plato's early dialogues. In his later works he started to develop his own philosophy.

Rachel Browne