Why Plato Lost Interest in the Socratic Method

ISBN-13: 9783031136924 / Angielski / Miękka / 2023

Gareth B. Matthews

Opis

The Socratic method of questioning and refutation (elenchus) predominates the early Platonic dialogues. But things change in the middle dialogues, as Socrates goes beyond merely asking questions and begins to provide answers to his questions. And the method virtually disappears in the late dialogues. The standard explanation of this phenomenon is that the early dialogues were intended to commemorate Socrates and the elenchus, while in the middle and late dialogues Plato went beyond Socrates to present his own mature philosophical thought. In this book, Matthews revises this explanation by uncovering the shortcomings that Plato came to find in the Socratic method and the reasons why Plato lost interest in it.

Spis treści

Editor’s Introduction

Preface 

Chapter 1: The Socratic Method 

Chapter 2: Analyzing Courage: Laches 

Chapter 3: Analyzing Piety: Euthyphro

Chapter 4: Blameworthy Ignorance: Apology 

Chapter 5: Virtue in Socratic Ignorance: Charmides 

Chapter 6: Latent Knowledge: Meno 

Chapter 7: Forms Left Unanalyzed: Phaedo 

Chapter 8: Downgrading the Elenchus: Republic I-II 

Chapter 9: Farewell to the Elenchus: Theaetetus 

Chapter 10: Philosophy Professionalized: Sophist 

Chapter 11: Conclusion 

Bibliography 

O autorze

Gareth B. Matthews was Professor of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, USA. He passed away in 2011.

S. Marc Cohen is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Washington, USA.