The Socratic Method

Looking at the first ten pages of Four Texts on Socrates, I had a difficult time discerning what Plato cared about the most. However, as with the other two works we have read, much is said about the author or authors’ feelings in the way the arguments and text are crafted. In The Epic of Gilgamesh, important ideas were discerned from passages that were rich in florid language. In Genesis, we found what the author(s) cared about by analyzing what words were repeated and which stories were recurring. In this first of four texts, it appears that Plato cares about emphasizing the method Socrates used to debate. When the two men, Euthyphro and Socrates, begin to argue, Euthyphro believes that he is justified in prosecuting his father since he believes it would make the gods happy. As the argument stretches on, Plato emphasizes the fact that Socrates always rebuts Euthyphro with a question. Using this method, Socrates brings Euthyphro around to his point of view very quickly. Because the dialogue is written in a “question-answer” style, it becomes apparent that Plato cares about what we call in modern day the “Socratic Method.” Plato is trying to show that by questioning our base beliefs, we can stumble upon silly loopholes and non-logical things that we never wanted to believe in. In essence, Plato cares about his readers following in Socrates’ shoes and becoming the obnoxious little two year-old that never stops asking, “Why?” As he shows in the debate between Socrates and Euthyphro, having this argument with oneself can change your base beliefs and make you think through what you actually believe in. Plato cares about having his readers reconsider their lives for their true value using Socrates’ method of questioning.