Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Opposed hypotheses about Plato's dialogues
- Chapter 2 Socrates in the Apology
- Chapter 3 Socrates in the digression of the Theaetetus:
- Chapter 4 Socrates in the Republic, part i: speech and counter-speech
- Chapter 5 Socrates in the Republic, part ii: philosophers, forms, Glaucon, and Adeimantus
- Chapter 6 Socrates in the Phaedo: another persuasion assignment
- Chapter 7 Others' conceptions of philosophy in the Euthydemus, Lovers, and Sophist
- Chapter 8 Socrates and Plato in Plato's dialogues
- Chapter 9 Socrates and philosophy
- Bibliography
- Index of passages cited
- General index
Chapter 9 - Socrates and philosophy
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Preface
- Chapter 1 Opposed hypotheses about Plato's dialogues
- Chapter 2 Socrates in the Apology
- Chapter 3 Socrates in the digression of the Theaetetus:
- Chapter 4 Socrates in the Republic, part i: speech and counter-speech
- Chapter 5 Socrates in the Republic, part ii: philosophers, forms, Glaucon, and Adeimantus
- Chapter 6 Socrates in the Phaedo: another persuasion assignment
- Chapter 7 Others' conceptions of philosophy in the Euthydemus, Lovers, and Sophist
- Chapter 8 Socrates and Plato in Plato's dialogues
- Chapter 9 Socrates and philosophy
- Bibliography
- Index of passages cited
- General index
Summary
WHICH OF PLATO'S DIALOGUES CALL SOCRATES A PHILOSOPHER?
Socrates, defending himself when on trial for his life, imagines his accusers saying:
“Socrates, for now we will let you go on this [condition]: that you no longer spend your time in this investigation in which [you have been spending your time] and do not philosophize…and if you should be caught doing this, you will die.”
(Apology 29c–d)Socrates rejects the imagined offer:
I would say to you…as long as I breathe and am able to, I will certainly not stop philosophizing, and urging you, and making an exhibit of myself to whoever of you I happen on, saying what I usually [say]: “Best of men, who are an Athenian, from the city greatest and most reputed for wisdom and strength, aren't you ashamed for caring about money – how you will have as much as possible – and reputation and honor, while you don't think of or care for thoughtfulness and truth and your soul – how it will be the best possible.”
(29d–e)Using the word “philosophizing” for the activity in which he spent his life, he says that his philosophizing was urging his fellows to care for how they might best live.
To further understand that passage, I'll look at other passages in which Plato uses “philosophy” words. I seek evidence that Plato is, or is not, depicting Socrates as a philosopher.
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- Socrates and Philosophy in the Dialogues of Plato , pp. 236 - 261Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2011