The Socratic question is: How real is the character Plato sketches in his numerous dialogues? Plato’s Apology, reporting the defence (Apologia) made by Socrates at his trial, shows him to be the first public intellectual rather than an absent minded stargazer. Unlike the intelligentsia of the past (poets and poet-prophets), Socrates laid no claim to wisdom, nor did he praise rulers. Refashioning the oracular imperative — know thyself — the real Socratic question turns out to be not about him but about ourselves. This article first appeared in the May 6, 2019 print edition under the title ‘In Good Faith: The Socratic question’.

Source: Indian Express May 05, 2019 18:45 UTC