La frugalité du Socrate de Xénophon

Abstract

The Frugality of Xenophon’s Socrates. To meet his material needs, Xenophon’s Socrates has to spend little time and effort because he lives a life of great frugality. The reason Xenophon stresses Socrates’ frugality much more than Plato is that self-control (enkrateia) with respect to physical needs (food, drink, sex) and material self-sufficiency (autarkeia) are essential aspects of his portrayal of Socrates, whereas Plato accords them little importance. The present study examines the main texts dealing with the frugality of Socrates’ lifestyle in Xenophon’s Socratic writings.