{"product_id":"how-to-speak-freely-plato-9780691271460","title":"How to Speak Freely: An Ancient Guide to Free Speech and Dissent","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA vivid and timely new translation of Plato's \u003ci\u003eApology, \u003c\/i\u003ein which Socrates defends his pursuit of truth, no matter the consequences\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFree speech is back at the center of political and cultural debate, amid intense arguments over censorship on campus, in government, and in everyday life. \u003ci\u003eHow to Speak Freely\u003c\/i\u003e offers a timeless and essential exploration of free speech through a lively new translation of Plato's \u003ci\u003eApology\u003c\/i\u003e, perhaps the most famous and important work on the subject in all of Western history. In it, Plato recounts the trial of Socrates in 399 BCE--one of the most powerful defenses of freedom of thought and speech ever written. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn Plato's \u003ci\u003eApology\u003c\/i\u003e, Socrates embodies the archetype of a person who thinks independently: a figure of conviction who pursued curiosity honestly, became convinced of unpopular truths, spoke candidly about them, and refused to grovel, pander, or recant--even to save his life. By insisting on his freedom and accepting the consequences, Socrates became the most famous martyr to free inquiry in history--and raised enduring questions about the value, dangers, and limits of free speech in a democracy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eHow to Speak Freely\u003c\/i\u003e supplements Plato's \u003ci\u003eApology\u003c\/i\u003e with a delightful fable on free speech told from a different angle. In the short dialogue \u003ci\u003eThe Gods in Council\u003c\/i\u003e, Lucian (c. 125-180 CE) satirizes the concept of \"platforming,\" showing how free speech ideals are truly tested only when they're truly applied. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFeaturing an enlightening introduction and the original Greek on facing pages, \u003ci\u003eHow to Speak Freely \u003c\/i\u003eis a powerful and thought-provoking examination of the rewards and risks of speaking one's mind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Plato\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0691271461\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780691271460\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Princeton University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/29\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 216\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover","brand":"Plato","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48801339998463,"sku":"9780691271460","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/how-to-speak-freely-plato-9780691271460","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}