Abstract

In his Memorabilia, Xenophon defends Socrates against the charge that he corrupted the young by presenting an account of the Socratic education. One implication of the corruption charge is that Socrates taught political lessons subversive of Athenian democracy. In order to refute the corruption charge Xenophon must prove that the Socratic education was beneficial. Xenophon argues that Socrates did not corrupt, but in fact improved the young through his teaching of politics. My study of Xenophon's Memorabilia considers both Socrates' political teaching and its relation to the Socratic education as a whole. ;An examination of Xenophon's account of the Socratic political education reveals that Socrates' teaching does contain a critique of Athenian democracy and its imperial policy. Socrates suggests that these practices, particularly under Pericles, led to the corruption and eventual decline of Athens. He also indicates what measures would be necessary to return Athens to political health. In addition, Xenophon clearly shows Socrates giving the young practical advice about how to fulfil their own political ambitions. Book Four makes clear, however, that this kind of political education is not the chief end of the Socratic education. It is primarily a means of attracting the attention of the best Athenian youth. Instead, the principal objective of Socratic instruction is preparing the young for dialectics and philosophy. The Socratic education as a whole, then, points to a different understanding of human excellence, one which requires a clear understanding of political life, but which also transcends it