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Socrates Search for Wisdom: An Exegetical Theory [Kietas viršelis]

(University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa)
  • Formatas: Hardback, 352 pages, aukštis x plotis: 234x156 mm, weight: 453 g
  • Išleidimo metai: 18-Jul-2025
  • Leidėjas: Routledge
  • ISBN-10: 0367408635
  • ISBN-13: 9780367408633
Kitos knygos pagal šią temą:
  • Formatas: Hardback, 352 pages, aukštis x plotis: 234x156 mm, weight: 453 g
  • Išleidimo metai: 18-Jul-2025
  • Leidėjas: Routledge
  • ISBN-10: 0367408635
  • ISBN-13: 9780367408633
Kitos knygos pagal šią temą:
"Socrates recommends that we live examined lives, but what exactly does that mean? Should we criticise and dismantle our moral convictions? Or construct theories of virtue and the good? This book argues that the answer is neither-the best human life is one of moral learning in which we actualise our potential for knowledge. Readers will gain a fresh perspective on the Socratic method of philosophy-not as a form of argument, but as a process of inquiry. The author develops and defends a model of exegetical dialogue, situates the account within the scholarly literature, and uses it to illuminate several puzzling features of Socrates' method. In the final section of the book, he demonstrates the model's alignment with Socrates' life and teachings as presented in Plato's Apology. The model of exegetical inquiry casts significant light on the central features of Socrates' philosophical practice and allows for a deeper understanding and appreciation of his philosophical life. Socrates' Search for Wisdom: An Exegetical Theory will appeal to scholars, students of Greek philosophy, and general readers, reflecting the Socratic tradition of engaging both intellectuals and ordinary individuals alike"--

Socrates recommends that we live examined lives, but what exactly does that mean? Should we criticise and dismantle our moral convictions? Or construct theories of virtue and the good? This book argues that the answer is neither—the best human life is one of moral learning in which we actualise our potential for knowledge.



Socrates urges us to examine our lives, but what exactly does that mean? Should we question our moral convictions, or construct theories of virtue and the good? This book argues for a third path—the best human life is one of moral learning, in which we actualise our potential for wisdom.

Readers will gain a fresh perspective on the Socratic method—not as mere argument, but as a process of inquiry. The author develops an exegetical model of dialogue and shows its fidelity to Plato’s texts. He then situates this model in the scholarly literature and uses it to clarify several puzzling features of Socrates’ approach. The result is a deeper understanding of Socrates’ method and his philosophical life.

Socrates’ Search for Wisdom: An Exegetical Theory will appeal to scholars, students of Greek philosophy, and general readers, continuing the Socratic tradition of engaging specialists and non-specialists alike.

Recenzijos

"Descriptions of Platos Socrates as seeking to refute his interlocutors or to construct arguments for certain doctrines from the wreckage of their contradictory beliefs seem to miss the key point: that Socrates is inquiring and seeking to get his interlocutors to inquire. The present book provides a new interpretation of Socrates method that does justice to this point and thus to Socrates emphatic claim that the only life worth living is the examined one." - Francisco Gonzalez, University of Ottawa

"This book offers an original and plausible interpretation of Socrates practice in a significant subset of Platos dialoguesno small feat!" - Hugh Benson, University of Oklahoma

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

§1. Platos Socrates

§2. The Examined Life

§3. Overview of the Argument

§4. Organisation

Part 1: Methodology

1 Method of Interpreting Plato

§1. Introduction

§2. The Dialogue as Drama

§3. Speech and Deed

§4. Socrates Irony

§5. Philosophical Writing

§6. Charity and Authority

2 Argument and Inquiry

§1. Introduction

§2. Argument

§3. Inquiry and Exegesis

§4. Argument Versus Inquiry

Part 2: Application of the Exegetical Model

3 Euthyphro

§1. Introduction

§2. Plot and Drama

§3. Definition 1: Prosecuting the Wrongdoer

§4. Definition 2: What the Gods Love

§5. Definition
3. What All the Gods Love

§6. Definition 4: The Part of Justice Relating to the Gods

§7. Definition 5: Knowledge of How to Sacrifice and Pray

§8. Irony

§9. Inference

4 Laches

§1. Introduction

§2. Plot and Drama

§3. Application of the Exegetical Model

§4. A Question about Courage and Definition 1

§5. Definition 2: Endurance

§6. Aporia

§7. The Assumption of Knowledge

§8. Conclusion

5 Nicias

§1. Introduction

§2. Four Stages of Dialogue

§3. Nicias Sophistry

§4. The Piety of Self-Contradiction

§5. Conclusion

6 Charmides

§1. Introduction

§2. Beauty of Body and Soul

§3. Definition 1: Calmness

§4. Spiritual Indications

§5. Definition 2: A Sense of Shame

§6. Definition 3: Doing Ones Own Things

§7. Charmides Final Speech

7 Critias

§1. Introduction

§2. Doing the Things of Ones Own

§3. Doing Good Things

§4. Self-Knowledge

§5. Examining Oneself and Others

§6. Can Knowledge Be Applied to Itself?

§7. Is Knowledge of Knowledge Beneficial?

§8. The Goodness of Virtue

§9. Knowledge of Good and Bad

§10. Not Knowing Self-Knowing

§11. Conclusion

8 Cephalus and Polemarchus

§1. Introduction

§2. Cephalus

§3. Polemarchus and Simonides

3.1 Simonides Account of Justice

3.2 The Interrogation of Simonides, I: On Justices Utility

3.3 The Interrogation of Simonides, II: Friendship and Harm

§4. Conclusion

9 Thrasymachus

§1. Introduction

§2. Method and Definition

§3. The Advantage of the Stronger

§4. The Wage-Earning Argument

§5. Stages of Exegetical Inquiry

§6. Justice or Injustice: A Question of Worth

§7. From Exegesis to Elenchus

10 Meno

§1. Introduction

§2. Socrates Disavowal of Knowledge

§3. Definitions 1 and 2: Many Forms and Ruling Over People

§4. The Logic Lesson

§5. Definition 3: Desiring the Beautiful and Having Power

§6. The Paradox of Inquiry

§7. Recollection

§8. The Geometry Experiment

§9. Menos Progress

§10. The Hypothetical Method

Part 3: Definition, Knowledge, and the Elenchus: A Scholarly Review

11 The Socratic Elenchus

§1. Introduction

§2. Vlastos at the Centre

§3. Objections to Vlastos Account

§4. The Exegetical Model

§5. Other Accounts of Socrates Goals

§6. Other Accounts of Socrates Method

§7. A Living Discourse

12 Socrates Method in Definition

§1. Introduction

§2. Inquiry and Action

§3. Intellectualism: Priority and Sufficiency

§4. Virtue and Knowledge

§5. Socrates Formal and Material Goals

§6. Conclusion

13 The Priority of Definition

§1. Introduction

§2. The Socratic Fallacy

§3. Knowledge: Latent and Definitional

§4. Dissolving the Problem of Inquiry

§5. The Socratic Fallacy Undone

§6. Socrates Disavowal of Knowledge

§7. Is the Priority Principle True?

§8. Discursive Self-Articulation

14 Virtue Is Knowledge

§1. Introduction

§2. A Progression in Argument

§3. Moving Toward Virtue as Knowledge

§4. Virtue Is Knowledge

§5. Ontological Principles of Definition

§6. Epistemic Principles of Definition

§7. The Language of Definition

§8. Conclusion

Part 4: Socrates Cares for Souls

15 Conceptions of Virtue

§1. Introduction

§2. Conception of Virtue, Character, and Irony

§3. Socrates Psyche-Leading: A Look Forward

§4. Exegetical Inquiry as Psyche-Leading

§5. Exegetical Inquiry and the Emotions

§6. Elements of Spiritual Progress

16 Socrates Works on Euthyphros Knowledge of Piety

§1. Introduction

§2. Conception of Virtue

§3. Psychological Changes

§4. The Power of Understanding

§5. Reconstituting the Paradigms

§6. Making Things Grow

§7. Growing in Understanding

§8. Exegetical Inquiry

§9. Inquiry as Imitation

§10. Finding Ones Way Back to a Centre

§11. Conclusion

17 Socrates Works on Laches Knowledge of Courage

§1. Introduction

§2. Conception of Virtue

§3. Historical Irony

§4. Psychological Changes

§5. Reconstituting the Paradigm

§6. Integration

§7. Self-Reflexivity

§8. Exegetical Inquiry

§9. Conclusion

18 Socrates Works on Charmides Knowledge of Temperance

§1. Introduction

§2. Conception of Virtue

§3. Historical Background

§4. Psychological Changes

§5. Understanding

§6. Exegetical Inquiry

§7. Conclusion

Part 5: Exegetical Inquiry in the Apology of Socrates

19 Socrates and Apollo

§1. Introduction

§2. The First Accusers

§3. The Delphic Oracle

§4. Human Wisdom

§5. The Oracle Story Retold

§6. The Oracle Interpretation as Exegetical Inquiry

§7. Coda: Exegesis in the Examination of Athens

20 Socrates After Delphi

§1. Introduction

§2. Socrates Business After the Oracle Interpretation

§3. The Unity of Socrates Mission

§4. Is the Exegetical Model Compatible With Human Wisdom?

§5. Application to the Dialogues

§6. As Apollo Stands to Socrates

§7. Conclusion

Part 6: Concluding Reflections

21 An Art of Living

§1. Introduction

§2. Learning to Be Good

§3 Elements of Socratic Method

Index
Dylan B. Futter is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.