PHIL 7720 Study Guide - Socratic Method, Sophist, Advantageous
31 Oct 2014
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Sponsored by anytus (one of socrates" accusers at his trial) Approaches socrates to embarrass him in public. Representation of the upper class that have been taught by sophist. Takes an individual (usually upper class) who thinks they know the definition of a term. Asks questions and pokes holes in definition until it is dismantled (elenchus- logical refutation, squashed upon until totally confused) Socrates is essentially a torpedo fish, he questions (electric shock) his prey until they are silent (numb) and unsatisfied (want to find right answer) Basically socrates confuses the person until they don"t know what they"re saying anymore and only after that can they find the real truth because otherwise there are too many preconceptions. Like a state of elenchus is one where you don"t know anything and you"re utterly confused. Search for truth makes an individual a better person and more knowledgeable-- a desire for truth and knowledge is more admirable and virtuous than confidence.
