Socrates' pitfalls

Socrates was a sort of bridge to Plato and Aristotle. In fact, in a way, Socrates and Plato were the same person, a sort of ‘Plocrates.’ The Republic, which Plato wrote, is predominantly about the ideas put forth by Socrates. Socrates was infamous for his method of his interrogation and questioning known as elenchus. Since Socrates believed that being wise meant being able to realize that you know nothing, he made it a habit to use this sort of cross-examination on people in order to expose their own ignorance. Socrates never comes to many real conclusions about anything. In the Republic, his elenchus with Polemarchus and Thrasymachus shows many things that justice is not, but it never defines justice itself. He disp

roves Polemarchus’ statement that justice is treating friends well and enemies badly by determining that harming someone would make them live more unjustly. Therefore, harming someone, even your enemy, would be unjust because it creates more injustice. He also disagree with Thrasymachus’ statement that justice is “nothing other than the advantage of the stronger” (Republic 338c). These are examples of Socrates response to someone else’s idea. Socrates never opens with his own ideas. He merely questions the ideas of others, and reasons why they are incorrect. Thrasymachus, in fact, accuses Socrates of this. Thrasymachus says, “If you truly want to know what justice is, don’t just ask questions and refute the answers simply to satisfy your competitiveness of love of honor. You know very well that it is easier to ask questions than answer them. Give an answer yourself, and tell us what you say the just is” (Republic 336c). Socrates defends himself in saying he doesn’t know what justice is or what anything is for that matter. People who speak must

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