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Dialectic and Who We Are in the Alcibiades *

Dialectic and Who We Are in the Alcibiades * Abstract In the Platonic Alcibiades , Socrates raises two central philosophical questions: Who are we? and: How ought we to take care of ourselves? He answers these questions, I argue, in his famous comparison between eyes and souls. Both answers hinge upon dialectic: self-care functions through dialectic because we are communicating beings. I adduce arguments for this from the set-up and language of the comparison passage. Another important indication is that Socrates expressly refers back to an earlier, aborted attempt to describe who we are in terms of using discourse. Rather than recommending to Alcibiades a life of contemplation apart from interpersonal exchange, Socrates presents such exchange as central to our self-improvement and identity. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Phronesis Brill

Dialectic and Who We Are in the Alcibiades *

Phronesis , Volume 59 (1): 1 – Jan 1, 2014

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References (11)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0031-8868
eISSN
1568-5284
DOI
10.1163/15685284-12341258
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract In the Platonic Alcibiades , Socrates raises two central philosophical questions: Who are we? and: How ought we to take care of ourselves? He answers these questions, I argue, in his famous comparison between eyes and souls. Both answers hinge upon dialectic: self-care functions through dialectic because we are communicating beings. I adduce arguments for this from the set-up and language of the comparison passage. Another important indication is that Socrates expressly refers back to an earlier, aborted attempt to describe who we are in terms of using discourse. Rather than recommending to Alcibiades a life of contemplation apart from interpersonal exchange, Socrates presents such exchange as central to our self-improvement and identity.

Journal

PhronesisBrill

Published: Jan 1, 2014

Keywords: Plato; Alcibiades ; self; self-improvement; self-knowledge; eye image; dialectic

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