Publisher's Synopsis
It's not often that a book ostensibly about Socrates also comments knowledgeably on (Roman) Coriolanus and (Florentine) Machiavelli, but such is the breadth of learning of geneticist, biologist and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci (of New York's City College). Truly, as Plato's Socrates boldly declared, the examined life is for us humans the only one. - Paul Cartledge, A.G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture, emeritus, University of Cambridge
What Socrates's greatest failure says about a 2,000-year-old question: is it possible to teach ourselves and others to become better people?
Can we make ourselves into better human beings?
Can we help others do the same?
Can we get our leaders to care that humanity prospers, not just economically, but also spiritually?
These questions have been asked for over two millennia and attempting to answer them is crucial if we want to build a more just society. How to Be Good uses the story of Socrates and Alcibiades and examples from Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius and Machiavelli, alongside modern interpretations to explore what philosophy can teach us about the quest for virtue today. With a little work, day by day, we all have the power to pursue the timely and timeless art of living well.
