by Lisa M. Hase

Created on: July 28, 2008

Socrates: Philosopher or Rhetorician?

In its purest form, the Socratic method (inquiry) explores answers that have been produced by questions posed during topical discourse. These answers are in turn further questioned, often leading participants of the inquiry into a labyrinthine trail as they search for truth. Through this method participants bring forth ideas and examine them with their peers, who are allowed, even encouraged, to objectively consider the level of accuracy and truth that exist within these concepts. Ideally, such inquiry purges the mind of chatter by giving voice to its inner arguments. Additionally, severing attachments that exist between man and his ideas purges him of passion, that unpredictable aspect of soul's dark side that oppresses reason. Further, this style of inquiry calls into question established thinking patterns so ingrained as to obstruct creative thought processing.

With respect to Book X of Plato's Republic, Socrates specifically questions the role of poets in society and suggests that their craft imitates reality and obscures truth. The suggestion gained through inquiry, and the Socratic process illustrates steps required to move people from acceptance of a standard norm to acceptance of the new. In so doing, Socrates essentially creates a school of thought that describes a standard of criticism used even today.

Because passion is opposite to reason in the anatomy of the soul, and reason is a virtue while passion fosters unpredictability and discontent, passion is considered an evil. And because, according to Socrates, poets speak to the passion of men, they are viewed as an unwelcome crack in the pavement of society in which the seeds of evil may sprout and compromise civic orderliness. After all, civic progress and success in 370 BC relied largely on the reasonableness of its citizens. Conversely, a city filled with people who were busy examining their feelings, lamenting their sorrows or joyously consuming goods instead of working would have perished, or been conquered. The essentiality of society in 780 BC then, required putting aside emotional events (non-essential to the pursuit of civic success), and moving forward in the way considered most healthful, that is, get back to work and discuss it with your peers (or, get over it). It is a position that supports civic duty over personal aspirations (or at least equates personal aspiration with that of the state).

By clearly and effectively creating a dichotomous paradigm

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