Seventh Letter

What it is

The Seventh Letter is a long epistle traditionally attributed to Plato, written after events in Sicily in the mid-4th century BC. Scholars debate its authenticity, though many consider it the most likely of Plato's letters to be genuine. In it, the author recounts his own political disillusionment, including the period of the Thirty Tyrants in Athens and the trial of Socrates.

Why it matters

The letter describes how the Thirty Tyrants tried to involve Socrates in the unjust arrest of Leon of Salamis, and states that Socrates' subsequent trial and execution deeply affected the author's view of politics. If genuine, this is a rare account connecting Socrates' fate directly to Plato's own life choices and philosophical career.

Look closer

• Why do scholars disagree about whether Plato really wrote this letter?
• What does the letter suggest about the dangers Socrates faced from political power in Athens?
• If this letter is not authentic, how would that change what we think we know about Plato's reasons for avoiding politics?