Lecture 4. Athens and the Sophists 15/09/2010. Today s Lecture

Transcription

1 Lecture 4 S O C R A T E S & T H E S O P H I S T S Today s Lecture In today's lecture we will: 1. Investigate the historical context that surrounded Socrates during his lifetime 2. Understand who the Sophists were and what they taught 3. Begin to investigate Socrates character and his philosophical views 4. Recognize the significance that Socrates holds in the history of philosophy Athens and the Sophists 1

2 Ancient Athens Ancient Athens Background: o Athens was the first known Democratic city o Any male citizen who had completed his military training could vote in state issues o Issues of state included political matters and important criminal trials o Votes were counted with a show of hands o The majority vote won o To be successfulin the state a citizen needed to pay for an education The Sophists The sophists appeared to meet the need for educators A sophist was a professional educator who could be hired for a fee Some sophists could be hired to teach academic subjects such as: o Astronomy o Algebra o Mathematics o Religion Gorgias Other Sophists claimed to teach excellence (Arete) and the art of Rhetoric Such experts could also be hired as legal defenders Protagoras 2

3 The Sophists Young man, if you associate with me, this is the benefit you will gain: the very day you become my pupil you will go home a better man, and the same next day; and every day you will continue to make progress (Protagoras 318a / Textbook p.43) Rhetoric Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speech The aim of rhetoric is to convince or persuade an audience to agree with you Typically this involved appealing to an audiences emotions or feelings Sophists, like Gorgias, were able to appear to be experts on any subject and could argue on both sides for any position Q: In what way might the Sophists be similar to modern day politicians and lawyers? Q: In what way do such professionals use the art of rhetoric? The Sophist s Method What does the following suggest? Some culturesclaim that there is one God Some people think marriage is good Some say the Earth is Round Other cultures claim that there is more than one God Others say marriage is bad Others say that the Earth is Flat 3

4 Relativism The sophists method reveals the following: There is no clear distinction between knowledge and opinion All truth is Relative Different people and cultures simply have different opinions on whatdifferent is true people and cultures simply have different opinions on what is true Of all things the measure is man: of existing, that they exist; of non-existing things, that they do not exist. -Protagoras (Textbook, p.45) Truth/Falsity, Good/Evil, Right/Wrong, etc. are all a matter of general Truth/Falsity, acceptance Good/Evil, Right/Wrong, etc. are all a matter of general acceptance and appearing the most convincing! Physis and Nomos Physis (Nature) Existence/status is independent of human conventions For example: Photosynthesis is a natural process Nomos (Custom) Existence depends on human conventions Truth depends on humans For example: The problem with opinion What might be problematic with the following opinions? o Tickling a baby s foot gives them learning difficulties o Wasp spray can be used instead of mace when being attacked o A Child s sleep can be helped with Gin o Sugar can make you hyperactive o If you go outside with wet hair you will catch a cold o If a bear attacks you, you should hide in a tree 4

5 Socrates and Plato Socrates o Lived around B.C.E. in Athens, Greece o Executed for practicing philosophy o Wrote nothing down and gave no lectures o Viewed philosophy as a social activity o Discussed philosophy with his fellow citizens in the streets of Athens o Interesting for more than just his philosophical views o Marked a turning point in the history of philosophy Plato o Lived around B.C.E. In athens, greece o Socrates disciple, Aristotle s teacher o Produced nearly 20 Socratic dialogues o Wrote some of the dialogues from his own memory of Socrates conversations o Had his own philosophical views and used some Socratic dialogues to express them 5

6 Some perplexities Why might the following be problematic? Plato wrote some of the dialogues from his own memory of Socrates conversations. Plato had his own philosophical views and used some Socratic dialogues to express them. and consider the following: Echecrates: Who, Phaedo, were those present? Phaedo: Among the local people there was Apollodorus, whom I mentioned, Critobulusand his father, also Hermogenes, Epigenes, Aeschines and Antisthenes. Ctesippusof Paeania was there, Menexenus and some others. Plato, I believe was ill. (p51) Socrates Subject Socrates subject o Socrates discussions took place with the citizens of Athens. o Most dialogues begin with a discussion about everyday things. o The discussion then becomes the occasion to pursue some important philosophical question. Some examples: What is Justice? What is Love? What is Truth? What is Piety? What is Courage? What is Friendship? 6

7 Questions What key differences exist between the kind of things that Thales investigated What key differences exist between the kind of things that Thales investigated and the knowledge that Socrates sought? Given the way that Socrates uses everyday examples, what does this show Givenus the way that Socrates uses everyday examples, what does this show us about the relation between philosophy and everyday life? What is significant about the following passage? Now I have no time for such work [investigating myths], and the reason Now is, I have no time for such work [investigating myths], and the reason is, my friend, that I ve not yet succeededin obeying the Delphic injunction my friend, to that I ve not yet succeededin obeying the Delphic injunction to know myself, and it seems to me absurd to consider problems about know other myself, and it seems to me absurd to consider problems about other beings while I am still in ignorance about my own nature The Socratic Method Euthyphro; a Socratic dialogue Background: Both Socrates and Euthyphro are at court, Socrates has been indicted for practicing philosophy, while Euthyphro is prosecuting his father for murdering a slave. Euthyphro is focused upon the question of what piety is. Piety is religious devotion and reverence to the gods. Also, devotion and reverence to parents and family. 7

8 The structure of a Socratic dialogue First Segment o Socrates meets someone who thinks they know what X is. o X is something that Socrates desires to know. o Socrates claims that he does not know what X is. o He is amazed that this person knows what X is. o The person is made to feel superior The structure of a Socratic dialogue Second Segment o Socrates asks the person to tell him what X is. o The person gives Socrates his definition of what X is. o Socrates notices a (seemingly small) problem with this definition. o The person tries to correct his definition. o The small problem becomes a big problem and the person s argument is now opened up and unraveled. o The Person recognizes that while he thought he knew what X was, he in fact does not. o Both he and Socrates are now ignorant about what X is. The structure of a Socratic dialogue Third Segment o Socrates and his partner have acknowledged their ignorance. o Both agree that they still desire to know what X is. o Both continue to pursue an answer to what X is. o Together, they try to formulate and test different hypotheses about what X is. o Dialogue ends without conclusion and ignorance 8

9 The Socratic method oanalyzing definitions o Questioning Assumptions, arguments and examples o Revealing an Individual s Ignorance o Asking for Examples. o Forming Theories. o Logical Analysis. o Indirect / Ironic. A final perplexity? Why do the dialogues end without conclusion? o Why does Socrates/Plato not give us a definitive answer to the questions raised? o What does this suggest about Socrates view on truth? o Does the fact that the dialogues end without conclusion make Socrates a Sophist? o Was Socrates a relativist? 9