Xenophon's Socratic Education Reason, Religion, and the Limits of Politics

"Sebell has written a penetrating analysis...[and]sets out a clear thesis that he (successfully) seeks to defend: Socrates encouraged promising students to arrive at his considered judgments about morality, politics, and theological matters by jokingly educating other less promising students in their presence. In the process, Sebell also guides the reader to those considered judgments." (Review of Politics) "Dustin Sebell is a master of close reading and reasoning. His novel treatment of Book IV of the Memorabilia shows how the Socratic understanding of justice and civic life serves as the basis for both political and natural philosophy." (Christopher Nadon, Claremont McKenna College) "Extraordinary in its precision, rigor, and power of argument, Dustin Sebell's book makes the persuasive case that through the mists of the joking education of the ridiculous Euthydemus we can see the heart of a serious Socratic education." (Devin Stauffer, University of Texas at Austin)