The Sacrifice of Socrates: Athens, Plato, Girard (Studies in Violence, Mimesis, & Culture)

When Athenians suffered the shame of having lost a war from their own greed and foolishness, around 404 BCE the public’s blame was directed at Socrates, a man whose unique appearance and behavior, as well as his disapproval of the democracy, made him a ready target. Socrates was subsequently put on trial and sentenced to death. However, as René Girard has pointed out, no individual can be held responsible for a communal crisis. Plato’s __Apology__ depicts Socrates as both the bane and the cure of Greek society, while his __Crito__ shows a sacrificial Socrates, what some might consider a __pharmakos__ figure, the human drug through whom Plato can dispense his philosophical remedies. With tremendous insight and satisfying complexity, this book analyzes classical texts through the lens of Girard’s mimetic mechanism. Contents 8 Preface 10 Introduction 12 Chapter 1. Mimesis, Conflict, and Crisis 22 Chapter 2. Plato’s Victimary Culture 62 Chapter 3. Aristophanes’ Ready Victim 94 Chapter 4. Foundation Murder 112 Notes 172 Bibliography 196 Index 206 Mimesis, conflict, and crisis Plato's victimary culture Aristophanic Socrates: ready victim Foundation murder.