For those who look for truth: On the origins of Western philosophy.
“Tell us, Delphic Oracle, who is the wisest man in all of Greece?” So begins The Death of Socrates. No mortal man is wiser than Socrates, who, on his daily walks through Athens, talks to all the people he meets. When the person he talks to takes himself to be very wise, Socrates asks so many questions that the person ends up admitting he knows nothing. When he runs into people who know little, Socrates sets them on the way to wisdom. But not everyone shares Socrates's love for the truth. When the people of Athens put him on trial for his ceaseless questioning, how will he find the courage to continue to speak the truth?
Plato & Co. introduces children—and curious grown-ups—to the lives and work of famous philosophers, from Descartes to Socrates, Einstein, Marx, and Wittgenstein. Each book in the series features an engaging—and often funny—story that presents basic tenets of philosophical thought alongside vibrant color illustrations. Plato & Co.'s clear approach and charming illustrations make this series the perfect addition to any little library.
Jean-Paul Mongin is a philosopher who lives and works in Paris. He is the publisher of the French series Les petits Platons.
Yann Le Bras is a French illustrator and cultural mediator at Musée Tomi Ungerer – International Illustration Centre in Strasbourg.