# Socrates — The City of God character guide

> Socrates in The City of God by Augustine of Hippo.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Socrates the Athenian

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-book-i

## Who they are

Greek philosopher, mentor of Plato, known for his method and opposition to pagan myths.

## In the story

### [Editor's Preface](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/editor-s-preface)

Augustine's dialectic compared favorably to that of Socrates.

### [Book VIII: Natural Theology and the Platonists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-book-viii)

Mentioned regarding his god; Augustine argues that Socrates' god could not be a demon.

### [Concerning the two schools of philosophers, that is, the Italic and Ionic, and their founders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-ii)

Described as the disciple of Archelaus and master of Plato.

### [Of the Socratic philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-iii)

First to direct philosophy to moral correction; condemned to death by Athens but later mourned.

### [Concerning Plato, the chief among the disciples of Socrates, and his threefold division of philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-iv)

Plato's master; known for his method of dissimulating knowledge; excelled in the active part of philosophy (regulation of morals).

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xiv)

His familiar spirit is identified by Apuleius as a demon, not a god.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-i-xxvii)

Referenced regarding his alleged god and the nature of demons.

### [Book XIV: The Sin of the First Man and the Two Cities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-book-xiv)

Mentioned in the context of Alcibiades weeping when Socrates demonstrated his misery due to folly.

### [Chapter VIII: Of the Three Perturbations and the Stoic View of the Wise Man's Emotions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-viii)

Mentioned in the anecdote about Alcibiades weeping upon realizing his folly.

### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxvii)

Cited as the Athenian master of moral philosophy, later than the prophet Esdras.

### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/chapters/part-ii-xli)

Mentioned as the teacher of Aristippus and Antisthenes, whose disciples held opposing views.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters/socrates
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_city_of_god_se/characters