Analysis Of Michael Russo's Introduction To Socratic Ethics

799 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Aristotle's view on virtue

Michael Russo's Introduction to Socratic Ethics profiles Socrates and aspects of his most formative philosophies and teachings. While we only know Socrates through other’s impressions of him, Plato’s dialogues feature what appears to be the most genuine representation of Socrates’ thoughts and philosophy. In this, ignorance, the Socratic method and Socrates’ thoughts on virtue are detailed. Russo argues that Socrates believed that happiness stems from virtue, which in turn stems from elenchos and episteme. For the most part, I agree with Socrates’ claims on ignorance and the yearning for self-examination and introspection, yet I disagree with his stance on virtue as knowledge.
Russo starts by examining Socrates’ views of ignorance. Russo starts …show more content…

In feigning ignorance, Socrates appealed to an intrinsic part of human nature, ego. By getting his subjects to play along, he lured them into detailing their lack of knowledge. I believe that in doing this, Socrates gets a true estimate of the character of those around him, much like Andie Anderson in the 2003 film, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. In an attempt to understand what drives men away in relationships, Andie feigns ignorance while in a “relationship.” In doing so, she finds out the true character of her pseudo-boyfriend who, like the citizens during Socrates’ time, did not like being a “guinea pig” or “somebody you can test your theories on” (Petrie, 2003). While I believe that people who are not morally good can trick themselves into believing that they are happy, I agree with the notion that one has to be morally good to be truly happy. When focusing on materialistic objects and dwelling in immorality, I believe there is a lack of fulfillment that does not come when striving for integrity. In the Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby got what he seemingly wanted; a big house, money, social status. What he did not get, however, was happiness. He built his empire on lies and corruption. In fact, “his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it,” but he never

Show More
Related

  • Plato's The Apology

    1518 Words  | 4 Pages

    In “The Apology,” Socrates represents himself in his own trial. He boldly questions the morality of the people of court. In this report, I will be analyzing portions of “The Apology” in order to reveal the intellectuality of this text within this time frame. I will only discuss bits of “The Apology“ on account that it is a lengthy piece. However, before discussing the speech it is important to set the scene. Socrates was born in 469 B.C.E. and lived to 399 B.C.E. (Nails, 2014). What we do know about him is second-hand knowledge, or recounts from his former students, Plato and Xenophon (“Plato and Socrates”). Nevertheless, his legacy has influenced philosophy and continues to do so.

    Read More

  • The Apology: A Philosophical Way Of Life

    1001 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to Pierre Hadot, “Thus philosophy was a way of life, both in its exercise and effort to achieve wisdom, and its goal, wisdom itself. For real wisdom does not merely cause us to know: it makes us “be” in a different way” ( Pierre 265) This explanation of a philosophical way of life is in all ways the definition of Socrates’ life. Socrates made his way through his entire life living in this way, seeking out wisdom, seeking out answers and never once got in trouble with the court until the age of seventy years old. He believed that by telling people about ignorance and wisdom, that he was only doing so for the good of the people. Socrates even goes as far as saying, “I am that Gadfly which God has attached to the state, and all day long and in all places am always fastening upon you, arousing and persuading and reproaching you”(Plato 9). Socrates believes that he was sent from God to show people a different way of life, a life of questioning and reason to which he should teach to all people. When asked if he was ashamed of a course of life of which would likely bring him to an untimely end Socrates says, “you are mistaken: a man who is good for anything ought not to calculate the chance of living or dying; he ought only to consider whether in doing anything he is doing right or wrong” (Plato 7).

    Read More

  • Comparison Between Crito And Apology by Plato

    1631 Words  | 4 Pages

    For these two articles that we read in Crito and Apology by Plato, we could know Socrates is an enduring person with imagination, because he presents us with a mass of contradictions: Most eloquent men, yet he never wrote a word; ugliest yet most profoundly attractive; ignorant yet wise; wrongfully convicted, yet unwilling to avoid his unjust execution. Behind these conundrums is a contradiction less often explored: Socrates is at once the most Athenian, most local, citizenly, and patriotic of philosophers; and yet the most self-regarding of Athenians. Exploring that contradiction, between Socrates the loyal Athenian citizen and Socrates the philosophical critic of Athenian society, will help to position Plato's Socrates in an Athenian legal and historical context; it allows us to reunite Socrates the literary character and Athens the democratic city that tried and executed him. Moreover, those help us to understand Plato¡¦s presentation of the strange legal and ethical drama.

    Read More

  • Euthyphro, by Plato

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    Consequently, In Plato's Euthyphro, our acquaintance with Socrates is immensely beneficial to society, as we obtain awareness on such an innovative method of achieving intuition. The Socratic approach is now a fundamental approach implemented in daily conversation in society Furthermore, not only is Socrates is able to verify that the true seekers are the wise; he also validates the notion that the answers to many questions are merely questions. Simply because, life is so debate that certain subjects begin to intertwine. To sum up, Plato's Euthyphro is extremely indicative of this Socratic irony, for the reason being that: Socrates's portrays a sense of intellectual humility.

    Read More

  • Socrates Rhetoric Is A Knack And Not An Art

    1516 Words  | 4 Pages

    He had already shown in his earlier discourse with Polus that there is a difference between what is pleasing and what is good; a person sees a practitioner of medicine even if doing so offers no pleasure because the outcome is good. Considering that a person can seek pleasure whose outcome could be bad, it makes sense that acting for the sake of pleasure itself is fool hearted, and fools who seek to experience pleasure regardless of outcome, as Socrates explains, are like a sieve because they lack the

    Read More

  • Lies And Deception in The Great Gatsby

    714 Words  | 2 Pages

    Deceit and its use to achieve one’s goals is a common theme in The Great Gatsby. However, as has been shown, many who use immoral means to obtain the things they want may find themselves in undesirable situations.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Difference Between Lies And Lies In Socrates

    1804 Words  | 4 Pages

    Socrates is seeking for the ultimate gain of greater knowledge and truth. If lies to the soul exists, then he, along with man Athenian scholars will be unable to seek out truth due to not knowing if their rhetoric is tainted with lies. But where do these lies manifest? For Socrates, there is an empirical problem. The knowledge that Socrates needs, and that everyone should want to have can only be received by educators that have not been predisposed to lies in speech nor lies to the soul. The structures of our lives are laid down as foundation as

    Read More

  • Façade and Lies: A Theme in F. Scott Fitzgerald´s The Great Gatsby

    740 Words  | 2 Pages

    “Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky once said this and this quote has greatly influenced the theme statement for this paper. The theme statement for this paper on the Great Gatsby is some people are willing to put up a false façade in order to become something they think is better and they lose their true selves in the long run. This paper will go through three examples of putting up a false façade. First the paper will go through Jay Gatsby, then Nick Carraway and finally the paper will wrap up with the parties that Gatsby throws.

    Read More

  • Peter Geach's Analysis Of The Socratic Fallacy

    1426 Words  | 3 Pages

    Peter Geach’s essay on the Socratic fallacy poses a large problem for the Socratic method of obtaining answers to the What-is-F? question. He claims that Socrates makes an error when he refuses to accept examples as knowledge, primarily citing the Euthyphro as the source. In my last essay, I examined whether or not Socrates commits the Socratic fallacy in two of the early dialogues, namely, the Euthyphro and the Laches. So, I shall begin by giving a brief recapitulation of my previous essay as well as outlining Geach’s Socratic fallacy. Additionally, I will bring up an objection that Beversluis raises to my view. Then I shall explain the importance of the fallacy and the theory of the fallacy within the Socratic dialogues as it relates to

    Read More

  • Ignorance, Ignorance, Cowardice, And Injustice In Socrates

    876 Words  | 2 Pages

    The most shameful and worst thing that Socrates states is corruption of soul, including “ “ignorance, cowardice, and injustice (Plato 822),” Ignorance, cowardice and injustice are caused by the lack of knowledge, according to Socrates’ claim that the essence of each virtue (e.g., holiness, justice, courage, self-control) is the same as knowledge or wisdom (Plato 779). Therefore, based on his doctrine that no one knowingly and willingly behaves wrongly, Socrates could make comments on the given case by drawing on the dialogues (e.g., “Protagoras” and “Gorgias”), in which he also mentions about ignorance, cowardice, or injustice. Most importantly, Socrates would want to investigate the central concepts closely since he believes that one must know the truth about the subject s/he is going to discuss (Plato 547-548, 847-857). Therefore, this paper shall also discuss how and why Socrates prefers a philosophical discussion with his dialectic method to mere rhetoric persuasion.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Between Socrates And Buddhism

    1006 Words  | 3 Pages

    Socrates focuses his philosophy on life entirely on the discovery of knowledge and wisdom, ethics, and the soul. He was obsessed with seeking of knowledge and wisdom: he believed that they are the key to a good life. He went on to state that, “an unexamined life, is a life not worth living.” According to him, knowledge and wisdom correlate to ethical actions, ultimately resulting in a life of happiness, by

    Read More

  • Socrates: Defending Philosophy and Truth in Athens

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    He openly questions the beliefs of men held in high esteem in Athens, and thus has made him a controversial figure. For this very reason, he was indicted. Socrates responds, claiming “You are wrong sir, if you should think that a man who is any good at all should take into account the risk of life or death…”. A good man does not consider his physical well being when taking action, rather he looks “whether what he does is right or wrong, whether he is acting like a good or bad man” (28c). Socrates distinctly uses the word “acting” instead of “being”. What he has essentially said is that good men only act like good men. Which is to say, that men only aim to be good. Additionally, a man’s life is not what matters, rather his honor, or the health of his soul is what matters. Actions guided by the idea of a “good man” determine a man’s worth. I find this is beautifully reflected in Aristotle 's divisions of the soul. Just as all “good” men aim to act like good men, Aristotle theorized that all activities of men are aimed at a type of good

    Read More

  • Socrates: The Most Integral

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nails, Debra, N. (2005, September 16). Socrates. Stanford University. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/socrates/

    Read More

  • Socrates and the Sophists

    675 Words  | 2 Pages

    Socrates was a philosopher who set out to prove, to the gods, that he wasn't the wisest man. Since he could not afford a "good" Sophist teacher, surely a student of one had to be smarter than he. He decides to converse with the youth of Athens, but concludes that he actually is wiser than everyone he speaks with. He then realizes that their lack of intelligence is the fault of their teachers. Socrates understands that the practice of "sophism" leads to a lack of self-knowledge and moral values. Socrates was later accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and put on trial. In The Apology of Socrates he sta...

    Read More

  • The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living

    1037 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Socrates was brought to trial for the corruption of the city’s youth he knew he had done nothing wrong. He had lived his life as it should be lead, and did what he ne...

    Read More

More about Analysis Of Michael Russo's Introduction To Socratic Ethics

Open Document