Socrates in the Cave: On the Philosopher’s Motive in Plato (Recovering Political Philosophy)

This book addresses the problem of fully explaining Socrates? motives for philosophic interlocution in Plato?s dialogues. Why, for instance, does Socrates talk to many philosophically immature and seemingly incapable interlocutors? Are his motives in these cases moral, prudential, erotic, pedagogic, or intellectual? In any one case, can Socrates? reasons for engaging an unlikely interlocutor be explained fully on the grounds of intellectual self-interest (i.e., the promise of advancing his own wisdom)? Or does his activity, including his self-presentation and staging of his death, require additional motives for adequate explanation? Finally, how, if at all, does our conception of Socrates? motives help illuminate our understanding of the life of reason as Plato presents it? By inviting a multitude of authors to contribute their thoughts on these question - all of whom share a commitment to close reading, but by no means agree on the meaning of Plato?s dialogues - this book provides the reader with an excellent map of the terrain of these problems and aims to help the student of Plato clarify the tensions involved, showing especially how each major stance on Socrates entails problematic assumptions that prompt further critical reflection. Read more... Series Editors’ Preface 6 Acknowledgments 8 Contents 9 Notes on Contributors 11 Chapter 1: Editors’ Introduction: Why Clarifying Socrates’ Motives Matters for Platonic Philosophy 15 Competing Views 19 Chapter 2: The Strange Conversation of Plato’s Minos 24 Chapter 3: Platonic Beginnings 52 I 52 II 53 III 54 IV 56 V 57 VI 59 VII 61 Chapter 4: A Look at Socrates’ Motive in Plato’s Laches 66 Introduction: Socrates’ Intention and the Purpose of Political Philosophy 66 The Introduction of Socrates (180a–181d) 68 Socrates’ Re-entrance: Corruption and Inquiry (184d–189e) 72 Laches’ Attempts to Define Courage: The Difference between Moral Virtue and Psychic Self-Possession (189d–194b) 74 Nicias on Courage, or, on Socrates’ Handling of the Generals (194c–199e) 80 Concluding Thoughts: Philosophy and the Gods (200a–201c) 86 Chapter 5: Socrates’ Self-Knowledge 89 Eros 93 Writing and Rhetoric 99 The Philosopher’s Understanding of the Weakness of Writing 100 Arts of Speeches: Socrates’ Understanding and its Limits 106 Chapter 6: Socrates’ Exhortation to Follow the Logos 119 The Meaning of logos 119 Following the logos in Speculation 123 Non-contradiction 130 Logos and Being 134 Doubts about the Forms 139 Following the logos in Action 145 Conclusion 149 Chapter 7: Philosophy, Eros, and the Socratic Turn 152 The Phaedo 154 The Parmenides 156 The Symposium 158 The Apology 168 Chapter 8: Free to Care: Socrates’ Political Engagement 175 Alcibiades in the Symposium 176 Socrates in the Apology 181 Care 185 Freedom 188 Children 190 Chapter 9: Socrates: Sisyphean or Overflowing? 194 Chapter 10: Socrates’ Motives and Human Wisdom in Plato’s Theages 213 Introduction 213 The Problems of Education 217 Theages’ Desire for Wisdom and Socrates’ Guidance 220 Socrates’ Daimonion and the Placement of Theages in the Development of Socrates’ Wisdom 229 Conclusion 236 Chapter 11: Plato’s Euthyphro on Divine and Human Wisdom 240 Preface 240 On the Euthyphro 242 Overview of the Dialogue 244 The Subject of the Conversation 245 Methodological Agreements 246 Substantive Challenges to Euthyphro 248 Socrates’ Strategy 251 The Interlude and Second Attempts to Define Piety 253 The Conclusion of the Dialogue 256 Chapter 12: On the Question of Socratic Benevolence 258 Introduction 258 Schema of the Dialogues 260 Do No Harm 267 Conclusion 270 Chapter 13: Philanthropy in the Action of the Euthyphro, Apology of Socrates, and Crito 271 Chapter 14: Philosophic Care in the Life of Plato’s Socrates 292 Philosophic Caretaking in the Symposium: Generating and Nurturing in the Presence of Beauty 294 Philosophic Caretaking in the Phaedrus: Socrates in Action 299 Philosophic Caretaking in the Theaetetus: Socrates as Midwife 306 Conclusion: The Withdrawal of God, the Eleatic Stranger, and Socratic Caretaking 313 Chapter 15: Plato’s Sons and the Library of Magnesia 320 The Socratocentric Approach and the Significance of the Laws 320 Who or What Rules in the Laws? 324 Writing Down the Laws 326 “Speeches that are the brothers of these” 331 Magnesia’s theōroi and the Recording of Texts 334 The Character of the Nocturnal Council 338 A Magnesian Library for a Magnesian Academy 341 Conclusion 343 Index 346 Socrates,in,the,Cave This Book Addresses The Problem Of Fully Explaining Socrates? Motives For Philosophic Interlocution In Plato?s Dialogues. Why, For Instance, Does Socrates Talk To Many Philosophically Immature And Seemingly Incapable Interlocutors? Are His Motives In These Cases Moral, Prudential, Erotic, Pedagogic, Or Intellectual? In Any One Case, Can Socrates? Reasons For Engaging An Unlikely Interlocutor Be Explained Fully On The Grounds Of Intellectual Self-interest (i.e., The Promise Of Advancing His Own Wisdom)? Or Does His Activity, Including His Self-presentation And Staging Of His Death, Require Additional Motives For Adequate Explanation? Finally, How, If At All, Does Our Conception Of Socrates? Motives Help Illuminate Our Understanding Of The Life Of Reason As Plato Presents It? By Inviting A Multitude Of Authors To Contribute Their Thoughts On These Question - All Of Whom Share A Commitment To Close Reading, But By No Means Agree On The Meaning Of Plato?s Dialogues - This Book Provides The Reader With An Excellent Map Of The Terrain Of These Problems And Aims To Help The Student Of Plato Clarify The Tensions Involved, Showing Especially How Each Major Stance On Socrates Entails Problematic Assumptions That Prompt Further Critical Reflection. Paul J. Diduch, Michael P. Harding, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book addresses the problem of fully explaining Socrates' motives for philosophic interlocution in Plato's dialogues. Why, for instance, does Socrates talk to many philosophically immature and seemingly incapable interlocutors? Are his motives in these cases moral, prudential, erotic, pedagogic, or intellectual? In any one case, can Socrates' reasons for engaging an unlikely interlocutor be explained fully on the grounds of intellectual self-interest (i.e., the promise of advancing his own wisdom)? Or does his activity, including his self-presentation and staging of his death, require additional motives for adequate explanation? Finally, how, if at all, does our conception of Socrates' motives help illuminate our understanding of the life of reason as Plato presents it? By inviting a multitude of authors to contribute their thoughts on these question--all of whom share a commitment to close reading, but by no means agree on the meaning of Plato's dialogues--this book provides the reader with an excellent map of the terrain of these problems and aims to help the student of Plato clarify the tensions involved, showing especially how each major stance on Socrates entails problematic assumptions that prompt further critical reflection.-- Provided by publisher "This book addresses the problem of fully explaining Socrates' motives for philosophic interlocution in Plato?s dialogues. Why, for instance, does Socrates talk to many philosophically immature and seemingly incapable interlocutors? Are his motives in these cases moral, prudential, erotic, pedagogic, or intellectual? In any one case, can Socrates? reasons for engaging an unlikely interlocutor be explained fully on the grounds of intellectual self-interest (i.e., the promise of advancing his own wisdom)? Or does his activity, including his self-presentation and staging of his death, require additional motives for adequate explanation? Finally, how, if at all, does our conception of Socrates? motives help illuminate our understanding of the life of reason as Plato presents it? By inviting a multitude of authors to contribute their thoughts on these question - all of whom share a commitment to close reading, but by no means agree on the meaning of Plato's dialogues - this book provides the reader with an excellent map of the terrain of these problems and aims to help the student of Plato clarify the tensions involved, showing especially how each major stance on Socrates entails problematic assumptions that prompt further critical reflection."--Back cover