Μενέξενоς by Plato
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The Story
Socrates meets a friend named Menezenus who is about to give a public funeral speech. Instead of offering advice, Socrates says he recently heard a much better speech written by Aspasia, Pericles's partner. He then proceeds to deliver this speech himself. It's a full-blown, patriotic eulogy praising Athens's history, its democratic values, and the bravery of its soldiers who died in battle. The speech makes Athens sound almost superhuman in its glory and virtue.
But here's the catch: Socrates is delivering this incredibly serious speech with a straight face, while telling us it was written by a woman (Aspasia) who taught Pericles how to speak. The whole setup makes you question everything you're hearing. The story ends abruptly, leaving us to wonder what just happened.
Why You Should Read It
This isn't your typical philosophical dialogue. There's no back-and-forth debate. Instead, it's a performance. Reading it feels like watching a brilliant satire. You can almost see Plato's wink as Socrates lays on the patriotic praise extra thick. It makes you think about the speeches we hear today from politicians and leaders. How much is sincere? How much is just what people want to hear?
I love how it puts Aspasia, a real historical woman often sidelined, at the center of Athenian rhetoric. It's a clever way to question who really creates the 'official' stories a nation tells about itself.
Final Verdict
Perfect for anyone interested in political rhetoric, satire, or ancient history that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's also great if you find some of Plato's longer works daunting—this is a short, accessible bite. You'll finish it in one sitting, but you'll be thinking about the power of public speech and national myth-making long after. Don't go in expecting answers; go in ready to question the performance of politics itself.
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Kimberly Torres
4 months agoAfter hearing about this multiple timmes, the balance between theory and practice is exceptionally well done. A solid resource I will return to often.
Mason Williams
3 months agoThis quickly became one of those books where the balance between theory and practice is exceptionally well done. Simply brilliant.
Melissa Sanchez
4 months agoMy professor recommended this and the plot twists are genuinely surprising without feeling cheap or forced. This made complex ideas feel approachable.
Lucas Williams
4 months agoI downloaded this out of curiosity and the diagrams and footnotes included in this version are very helpful. I will be reading more from this author.