of identity that he fascinated: ancient philosophy never again freed itself [from this fascination]". From the late 19th century until the early 20th, the most common explanation of Nietzsche's hostility towards Socrates was his anti-rationalism; he considered Socrates the father of European rationalism. In the mid-20th century, philosopher Walter Kaufmann published an article arguing that Nietzsche admired Socrates. Current mainstream opinion is that Nietzsche was ambivalent towards Socrates. Continental philosophers Hannah Arendt, Leo Strauss and Karl Popper, after experiencing the horrors of World War II, amidst the rise of totalitarian regimes, saw Socrates as an icon of individual conscience. Arendt, in Eichmann in Jerusalem (1963), suggests that Socrates's constant questioning and self-reflection could prevent the banality of evil. Strauss considers Socrates's political thought as paralleling Plato's. He sees an elitist Socrates in Plato's Republic as exemplifying why the polis is not, and could not be, an ideal way of organizing life, since philosophical truths cannot be digested by the masses. Popper takes the opposite view: he argues that Socrates opposes Plato's totalitarian ideas. For Popper, Socratic individualism, along with Athenian democracy, imply Popper's concept of the "open society" as described in his Open Society and Its Enemies (1945). See also Bibliography of Socrates De genio Socratis List of cultural depictions of Socrates List of speakers in Plato's dialogues Socratic fallacy Socratic Letters Notes Sources Further reading External links The Dialogues of Plato at Project Gutenberg 5th-century BC Athenians 5th-century BC philosophers 4th-century BC executions 470s BC births 399 BC deaths Ancient Athenian philosophers Ancient Greek epistemologists Ancient Greek ethicists Ancient Greek philosophers of mind Ancient Greek political philosophers Ancient Greeks accused of sacrilege Critics of religions Executed ancient Greek people Executed philosophers Family of Socrates Forced suicides Irony theorists People executed by ancient Athens People executed by poison People executed for heresy Philosophers of education Philosophers of love