Socrates, or at least the Socrates Plato depicted, to me seemed very... for lack of another word, desperate in his attempt of defense in his trial. To illustrate more precisely, his notion that he is wisest because he does not claim to know what he truly doesn't know. Is that really wisdom? Possessing "cognizant ignorance"? He was modest and humble perhaps, at least that's what he wanted himself perceived as. But I don't think the wisest. Surely he wasn't the only one in his time to possess such humility? Or was such a notion really so far, and thus deviceful, from the societal norm of the time? Perhaps in that he was wise, depending on how broadly you define the term. But from a modern standpoint, I think he was just a tool speaking far too much, and trying too hard to come up with manipulative rhetoric. So much so that he seemed desperate. His attempts to present non-butthurting accounts to prove his so called 'wisdom' and boost his own superiority complex without getting into too much trouble ultimately failed, as he was charged, convicted, and sentenced to death.
I think it all depends on how you define the word "wise". If you think that it means, partly at least, having knowledge deeper than that of a specific trade (poetry, craftsmanship, etc.) then I think he was in fact wise.
ReplyDeletePerhaps. For the time, he was a clever thinker I'll give him that. Though to proclaim yourself wisest in any circumstance or context, even his, is still very vain. And in my opinion, is exactly why he isn't the wisest. I think he just thought of something creative to support his own inflated ego and ran with it. Hoping by it's nature not to offend anyone.
ReplyDeleteGood job using a critical lens on this text, Kyle.
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