Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume 1 — Reading Notes

Grote's Method: Philosophy as Historical Inquiry

Grote explicitly distinguishes his approach from a purely philosophical treatise, describing his work as one where philosophy is the principal subject and history only the accessory. He treats Sokrates and Plato as characters in history as well as philosophy, and his preface references his earlier historical work as providing the necessary background. This dual lens is evident in his handling of the Hieron dialogue, where he presents the exchange between Simonides and Hieron not merely as abstract argument but as a reflection of Grecian manners, noting the distinction drawn between τὰ παιδικὰ ἀφροδίσια and τὰ τεκνοποιὰ ἀφροδίσια. Grote's footnotes cite Xenophon directly, grounding his analysis in textual evidence rather than speculation.

The Despot's Dilemma: Appearance versus Reality

In his discussion of the Hieron, Grote highlights a central tension: the despot's apparent advantages—fine cookery, unguents, splendid possessions—are undercut by the internal misery of perpetual insecurity. Hieron argues that happiness resides only in a man's internal feelings, and that the despot cannot trust the sincerity of praise or affection. Grote notes that the despot forfeits the pleasure of public festivals, hears only insincere praise, and must have his food tasted. The private citizen, by contrast, can trust those who profess love, as they have no motive for falsehood. This contrast between external show and internal reality is a recurring pattern in Grote's analysis of Socratic thought.

Structure and Scope: A Volume of Foundations

This first volume establishes the groundwork for the entire work. It covers pre-Socratic philosophy, the growth of dialectic, the other companions of Sokrates, Xenophon, and then Plato's life, the Platonic canon, and several early dialogues. Grote's arrangement, as noted in the advertisement, transposes his concluding chapters on other companions and Xenophon to the beginning, so that each volume possesses a certain amount of unity. The volume thus serves as an introduction to the individuals and intellectual context that precede Plato's major works, which are treated in subsequent volumes. Readers should note that Grote's evidence is drawn from the texts themselves, not from later reception.

Grote's work rewards readers who attend to his footnotes and cross-references, which often contain the philological and historical evidence for his claims. The volume's structure—beginning with pre-Socratic philosophy and ending with early Platonic dialogues—invites a sequential reading, but each chapter can also stand alone as a detailed examination of its subject. Those interested in Grote's method will find his preface and advertisement essential for understanding the work's design.

The rain slid down the window as I dog-eared a page in Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, lingering over Grote’s quiet insistence that moral inquiry often thrives outside grand systems. That afternoon, the thought drifted—how other traditions wrestle with the same inner weather. Later, I stumbled upon Some religious and moral teachings of Al-Ghazzali — Key Ideas to Explore, and the room felt warmer, the rain less lonely.