The modern world began with a critique of ancient philosophy as
unscientific and in a decisive attempt to progress beyond it. Over
time, however, the promises of the early modern philosophers have
become increasingly suspect, while the ancients have come to enjoy
greater appeal. Defending Socrates articulates Plato's implicit
response to the early modern attack through a holistic
interpretation of Plato's trilogy of dialogues on the question of
knowledge—Theaetetus, Sophist, and Statesman. In Theaetetus,
Socrates attempts to define knowledge with two mathematicians, the
young Theaetetus and his teacher Theodorus, but ultimately fails.
This failure leads Theodorus, on the following day, to bring along
a stranger from the city of Elea to correct Socrates's manner of
philosophizing. The Eleatic stranger presents us with a scientific
alternative to Socrates in Sophist and Statesman. By the end of
these dialogues, however, it becomes clear that the obstacles and
inconsistencies confronting the stranger's alternative are
insurmountable. Socratic philosophy turns out to be the only
tenable mode. Plato thus directs us back to Theaetetus, which took
place the day before but was written afterwards, that is, in full
awareness of the stranger's alternative. There we find a defense of
the unscientific aspects of Socratic philosophy that might provide
us guidance amid the broken promises of modernity.
General
Imprint: |
Mercer University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
May 2023 |
Authors: |
Alex Priou
|
Pages: |
200 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-88146-914-1 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-88146-914-9 |
Barcode: |
9780881469141 |
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