How does Socrates demonstrate the difference between philosophy and sophism in the Euthyphro?
2 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Write a 200-300 word essay using one of the given prompts. • How does Socrates demonstrate the difference between sophism and philosophy in the Euthyphro.
While there is not and may never be widely agreed upon definition of philosophy that defines all aspects it is safe to say one part of it is, searching for answers. This is the difference philosophy and sophism. While philosophy is a quest for answers, Sophism is an attempt at convincing others of answers. In Euthyphro, Socrates demonstrates this difference. Throughout the text he portrays himself as a pupil, eager to learn. Socrates did not try to convince Euthyphro of the meaning of piety but instead sought an answer that would hold out against all lines of questioning. Euthyphro’s ‘moving statements’ posed many opportunities for Socrates to impose his own ideas. For example, in section 8a when Euthyphro changes his argument to say all just actions are pious and their opposite are impious to some actions are pious according to each god’s opinion. Then in section 9c he was willing to say as Socrates suggested that what is neither loved nor hated by the gods is, is neither pious nor impious. Socrates instead pointed to Euthyphro that the most pressing matter at hand was explaining piety and impiety to him (Socrates) and making him wiser. Though Socrates suggests certain line of reasoning, he frequently asks Euthyphro if that is so, to which he usually agrees. In Euthyphro Socrates was given the opportunity on many occasions to provide his own seemingly accurate definition of piety. He instead turns them down, unlike a sophist would, in favor of learning the meaning piety.
In the Euthyphro, Socrates demonstrates the difference between philosophy and sophism in the midst of his conversation with Euthyphro. Sophism, as we all know, revolves around teaching and convincing you that they are right. This is accomplished by the use of rhetoric (effective speech). So, in short, a sophist would try to win you over and convince you he is right. Philosophy, on the other hand, is basically the opposite of sophism. Instead of trying to convince you he is right, a philosopher would be searching for the “truth”. In addition, philosophers are interested in learning and what they do not know (in other words they realize they have much to learn) rather than be fawning over all of the knowledge they already have. Socrates’ demonstration begins on 2c – “‘What charge? A not ignoble one I think, for its is no small thing for a young man to have knowledge of such an important subject. He says he knows how our young men are corrupted and who corrupts them. He is likely to be wise, and when he sees my ignorance corrupting his contemporaries, he proceeds to accuse me to the city as to their mother. I think he is the only one of our public men to start out the right way, for it is right to care first that the young should be as good as possible, just as a good farmer is likely to take care of the young plants first, and then the others later.’” Here, we observe that Socrates believes that if Meletus believes what he thinks is right than he is doing the right thing by indicting him because the first priority should be taking care of the young. Later, on 3, Euthyphro replies – “‘I could wish this were true, Socrates, but I fear the opposite may happen. He seems to me to start out by harming the very heart of the city by attempting to wrong you.’” Here, we begin to see what Euthyphro thinks on the subject. Instead of praising the young, Euthyphro thinks that the heart of the city lies in the wise elders who teach others. Already, we can see how the two think differently. Socrates, believes that the youth (which is uncertain and unknown, much like the future) should be well nurtured before all other things while Euthyphro believes that the elders (of which are wise but certain and definite, like the past) are the most important. In this, we can see traces of sophism (in Euthyphro) and of philosophy (in Socrates). Later, in 5, Socrates gives yet another example of his fascination of what he has no knowledge of by asking to become Euthyphro’s pupil – “‘It is indeed most important, my admirable Euthyphro, that I should become your pupil…’” Again, we can see that Socrates, the wise old philosopher, realizes that as intelligent, as wise, and as clever as he is he still has a lot to learn, which is what he has to gain by becoming a student of Euthyphro’s. Basically, we can see traces of sophism and philosophy in the conversation the Socrates and Euthyphro have in the Euthyphro. Euthyphro believes the heart and core of the city to lie with the elders, that teach and convince others what they say is correct. On the other hand, Socrates believes that the young, who are unknowing, uncertain, and basically unknown, are the heart of the city. Socrates also realizes that he has much to gain by becoming Euthyphro’s student if indeed Euthyphro can teach him about piety, whereas Euthyphro considers himself an expert at these matters because he is a priest.
2 comments:
Write a 200-300 word essay using one of the given prompts.
• How does Socrates demonstrate the difference between sophism and philosophy in the Euthyphro.
While there is not and may never be widely agreed upon definition of philosophy that defines all aspects it is safe to say one part of it is, searching for answers. This is the difference philosophy and sophism. While philosophy is a quest for answers, Sophism is an attempt at convincing others of answers.
In Euthyphro, Socrates demonstrates this difference. Throughout the text he portrays himself as a pupil, eager to learn. Socrates did not try to convince Euthyphro of the meaning of piety but instead sought an answer that would hold out against all lines of questioning. Euthyphro’s ‘moving statements’ posed many opportunities for Socrates to impose his own ideas. For example, in section 8a when Euthyphro changes his argument to say all just actions are pious and their opposite are impious to some actions are pious according to each god’s opinion. Then in section 9c he was willing to say as Socrates suggested that what is neither loved nor hated by the gods is, is neither pious nor impious. Socrates instead pointed to Euthyphro that the most pressing matter at hand was explaining piety and impiety to him (Socrates) and making him wiser.
Though Socrates suggests certain line of reasoning, he frequently asks Euthyphro if that is so, to which he usually agrees. In Euthyphro Socrates was given the opportunity on many occasions to provide his own seemingly accurate definition of piety. He instead turns them down, unlike a sophist would, in favor of learning the meaning piety.
Dionis Jahjaga
In the Euthyphro, Socrates demonstrates the difference between philosophy and sophism in the midst of his conversation with Euthyphro. Sophism, as we all know, revolves around teaching and convincing you that they are right. This is accomplished by the use of rhetoric (effective speech). So, in short, a sophist would try to win you over and convince you he is right. Philosophy, on the other hand, is basically the opposite of sophism. Instead of trying to convince you he is right, a philosopher would be searching for the “truth”. In addition, philosophers are interested in learning and what they do not know (in other words they realize they have much to learn) rather than be fawning over all of the knowledge they already have.
Socrates’ demonstration begins on 2c – “‘What charge? A not ignoble one I think, for its is no small thing for a young man to have knowledge of such an important subject. He says he knows how our young men are corrupted and who corrupts them. He is likely to be wise, and when he sees my ignorance corrupting his contemporaries, he proceeds to accuse me to the city as to their mother. I think he is the only one of our public men to start out the right way, for it is right to care first that the young should be as good as possible, just as a good farmer is likely to take care of the young plants first, and then the others later.’” Here, we observe that Socrates believes that if Meletus believes what he thinks is right than he is doing the right thing by indicting him because the first priority should be taking care of the young. Later, on 3, Euthyphro replies – “‘I could wish this were true, Socrates, but I fear the opposite may happen. He seems to me to start out by harming the very heart of the city by attempting to wrong you.’” Here, we begin to see what Euthyphro thinks on the subject. Instead of praising the young, Euthyphro thinks that the heart of the city lies in the wise elders who teach others. Already, we can see how the two think differently. Socrates, believes that the youth (which is uncertain and unknown, much like the future) should be well nurtured before all other things while Euthyphro believes that the elders (of which are wise but certain and definite, like the past) are the most important. In this, we can see traces of sophism (in Euthyphro) and of philosophy (in Socrates). Later, in 5, Socrates gives yet another example of his fascination of what he has no knowledge of by asking to become Euthyphro’s pupil – “‘It is indeed most important, my admirable Euthyphro, that I should become your pupil…’” Again, we can see that Socrates, the wise old philosopher, realizes that as intelligent, as wise, and as clever as he is he still has a lot to learn, which is what he has to gain by becoming a student of Euthyphro’s.
Basically, we can see traces of sophism and philosophy in the conversation the Socrates and Euthyphro have in the Euthyphro. Euthyphro believes the heart and core of the city to lie with the elders, that teach and convince others what they say is correct. On the other hand, Socrates believes that the young, who are unknowing, uncertain, and basically unknown, are the heart of the city. Socrates also realizes that he has much to gain by becoming Euthyphro’s student if indeed Euthyphro can teach him about piety, whereas Euthyphro considers himself an expert at these matters because he is a priest.
Post a Comment