Socratic Dialectic Essays

Socratic Dialectic Essays Socratic Dialectic Paper Socratic Dialectic Paper A friend of Socrates, Chaerephon, asked the Oracle of Delphi if there is anyone wiser than Socrates. The goddess answered that there is not. (Plato, p. 50). Aware that he cannot claim wisdom, but intrigued by the Oracle’s answer, Socrates embarks on a journey to find someone who is truly wise. The method he used to establish someone’s wisdom or lack of it has been known as the Socratic dialectic. Socrates’ dialectic technique, its aim and its method will be examined in this paper. The Apology of Socrates’ by Plato, will be used as a case study to illustrate key points. Upon hearing the Oracle’s answer that no one is wiser than him, Socrates found the literal interpretation difficult to comprehend. He decided to seek out people who have a reputation for wisdom in various regards and test their claims to knowledge through questioning. He discovers a good deal of vain ignorance and false claims to knowledge, but no one with genuine wisdom. As he always believed that he knew very little, he came to the conclusion that he was wise only in so far as that he knew nothing. Socratic method is a dialectic method of inquiry, in which elenchos (Greek: a cross-examination) is the central technique (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Socrates). Dialectic is a form of a dialogue which consists of two methods, analysis and synthesis. (Macquarie University, Lecture 4). Through analysis, Socrates would ask the person to state a claim they believed to be true. To investigate the validity of the claim, he would use a series of questions and answers. It was intende d to reveal person’s beliefs and underlying assumptions about a particular topic and demonstrate their consistency or lack of it. Once the person’s contradictions have been exposed, the conclusion (synthesis) is that the original claim cannot be made since it does not correspond to evidence presented through the process of analysis. The good example of Socrates’ technique is illustrated in The Apology, Socrates’ defence to charges brought against him by the court of Athens. Meletus, one of his main accusers, believes that Socrates has corrupted the young by teaching them to believe in new deities instead of the gods recognized by the State. Socrates begins his analysis by asking Meletus if he is accusing him of believing in some gods or in no gods at all. Meletus answers that: ‘Yes, I say that you disbelieve in gods altogether. ’ Socrates proceeds by asking Meletus if he also suggests that Socrates believes that the sun and the moon are not gods. Meletus answers that Socrates does not believe that the sun and the moon are gods, because he claims that the sun is a stone and the moon a mass of earth. Socrates demolishes this as a valid point, because these theories do not belong to him, but to Anaxagoras. He concludes that Meletus is contradicting himself stating that ‘Socrates is guilty of not believing in the gods, but believing in the gods’. He continues by asking if it is possible to believe in human activities, but not in human beings, or supernatural activities and not in supernatural beings? Meletus answers ‘no’. Socrates proceeds by saying that since he is accused of believing and teaching others in supernatural activities, he must also believe in supernatural beings, which are either gods or their children. This is where Socrates demolishes Meletus’ claim for the second time by concluding that Meletus was simply testing his intelligence by stating first that he does not believe in gods, then that he does, since he believes in supernatural beings. (Plato, p56-58) So what can be said of Socrates’ technique? Although the method itself seems simple, it is almost impossible to escape its intense rigor as well as the destructiveness of its rich irony. By using leading questions that require short and logical answers, Socrates cross-examines and refutes the opponent usually ending the conversation in puzzlement and embracement. He professes to be a plain man who speaks only simple truths, yet his proficiency in employing some very clever rhetoric enables him to keep an upper hand in every conversation. And while his method might appear ruthless and hostile, it was essentially ethical in character. Belief in a purely objective understanding of such concepts as justice, love, and virtue, and the self-knowledge that he encouraged, were the basis of his teachings. He believed that all vice is the result of ignorance, and that no person is willingly bad; correspondingly, virtue is knowledge, and those who know the right will act rightly. Socrates was not a believer in any specific metaphysical point of view, but he believed that he was appointed by God to examine himself and others in order to discover who they really are. Thus, he claimed that the highest goodness consists in the caring of the soul concerned with moral truth and moral understanding. ‘Wealth does not bring goodness, but goodness brings wealth and every other blessing, both to the individual and to the state’. (Plato, p 62). As previously stated, Socrates dialectic aims to etermine whether an individual makes justifiable claims to knowledge by using the method of cross-examination in order to draw out a contradiction or inconsistency in their claims. However, this is not the only aim of dialectic. The Socratic method is also a means of conversing, developing a dialogue that aims to bring awareness to person’s ignorance of a subject. It aims to free other from ignorance, encourage them on their path to self-knowledge, assist then in leading good, virtuous life and ultimately improve the welfare of their souls. In my opinion, this is certainly a cause worth admiration; however I have found myself questioning the real outcome of his ironic, ruthless method of inquiry. He aimed to awaken his fellow citizen’s attachment to authoritative moral and religious opinions, by criticizing the popular ideas, but in the process managed to ridicule and embrace them. Does a man who feels like a fool, after being subjected to public scrutiny have a desire and commitment to turn the mirror inwards and start living ‘life worth living’? Or would he, more likely, regard Socrates and his method as arrogant and rebellious, and therefore inevitably respond by disregarding its true meaning. And it is that in its true meaning, Socrates’ dialectic reminds us that the way to wisdom lies in the philosophy, in our willingness to question what we (and others) know and in the ability to justify and give reasonable account for our claim. Socrates once said that â€Å"I know you won’t believe me, but the highest form of Human Excellence is to question oneself and others†

Romeo and Juliet Scenes

Romeo and Juliet Scenes Act 1 Scene 1: Samson and Gregory, Capulet’s men, discuss strategies to provoke a fight with the Montagues – banter between the two sides soon starts. Benvolio encourages peace among the families just as Tybalt enters and challenges him to a duel for being a cowardly Montague. Montague and Capulet soon enter and are encouraged by the Prince to keep the peace. Romeo is feeling dejected and forlorn – he explains to Benvolio that he is in love, but that his love is unrequited. Scene 2: Paris asks Capulet if he may approach Juliet for her hand in marriage - Capulet approves. Capulet explains that he is holding a feast at which Paris could woo his daughter. Peter, a serving man, is dispatched to give out invitations and unwittingly invites Romeo. Benvolio encourages him to attend because Rosalind (Romeo’s love) will be present. Scene 3: Capulet’s wife informs Juliet of Paris’ desire to marry her. The Nurse also encourages Juliet. Scene 4: A masked Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio enter the Capulet celebration. Romeo tells of a dream he had about the consequences for attending the celebration: the dream foretold â€Å"untimely death†. Scene 5: Capulet welcomes the masked revelers and invites them to dance. Romeo notices Juliet among the guests and instantly falls in love with her. Tybalt notices Romeo and informs Capulet of his presence offering to remove him. Capulet allows Romeo to stay in order to preserve the peace. Meanwhile, Romeo has located Juliet and the couple kisses. Act 2 Scene 1: Upon leaving the Capulet grounds with his kinsman, Romeo has run off and hid himself in the trees. Romeo sees Juliet on her balcony and overhears her profess her love for him. Romeo responds in kind and they decide to marry the next day. Juliet is called away by her Nurse and Romeo bids her farewell. Scene 2: Romeo asks Friar Lawrence to marry him to Juliet. The Friar chastises Romeo for being fickle and asks what happened to his love for Rosalind. Romeo dismisses his love for Rosalind and explains the urgency of his request. Scene 3: Mercutio informs Benvolio that Tybalt has threatened to kill Mercutio. The Nurse ensures that Romeo is serious about his love for Juliet and warns him of Paris’ intentions. Scene 4: The Nurse delivers the message to Juliet that she is to meet and marry Romeo in Friar Lawrence’s cell. Scene 5: Romeo is with Friar Lawrence as Juliet hastily arrives. The Friar resolves to marry them quickly. Act 3 Scene 1: Tybalt challenges Romeo, who attempts to pacify the situation. A fight breaks out and Tybalt kills Mercutio – before dying he wishes â€Å"a plague on both your houses.† In an act of revenge, Romeo kills Tybalt. The Prince arrives and banishes Romeo. Scene 2: The Nurse explains that her cousin, Tybalt, has been killed by Romeo. Confused, Juliet questions Romeo’s integrity but then decides that she loves him and wants him to visit her before he is exiled. The Nurse goes to find him. Scene 3: Friar Lawrence informs Romeo that he is to be banished. The Nurse enters to pass on Juliet’s message. Friar Lawrence encourages Romeo to visit Juliet and fulfill their marriage contract before going to exile. He explains that he will send a message when it is safe for Romeo to return as Juliet’s husband. Scene 4: Capulet and his wife explain to Paris that Juliet is too upset about Tybalt to consider his marriage proposal. Capulet then decides to arrange for Juliet to marry Paris the following Thursday. Scene 5: Romeo bids Juliet an emotional farewell after spending the night together. Lady Capulet believes that Tybalt’s death is the cause of her daughter’s misery and threatens to kill Romeo with poison. Juliet is told that she is to marry Paris on Thursday. Juliet refuses much to her father’s distain. The Nurse encourages Juliet to marry Paris but she refuses and decides to go to Friar Lawrence for advice. Act 4 Scene 1: Juliet and Paris discuss the marriage and Juliet makes her feeling clear. When Paris leaves Juliet threatens to kill herself if the Friar cannot think of a resolution. The Friar offers Juliet a potion in a vial which will make her appear dead. She will be placed in the family vault where she is to wait for Romeo to take her to Mantua. Scene 2: Juliet begs her father’s forgiveness and they discuss Paris’ marriage proposal. Scene 3: Juliet asks to spend the night alone and swallows the potion with a dagger by her side in case the plan does not work. Scene 4: The Nurse discovers Juliet’s lifeless body and the Capulets and Paris grieve her death. The Friar takes the family and Juliet’s seemingly dead body to church. They hold a ceremony for Juliet. Act 5 Scene 1: Romeo receives news from Balthasar about Juliet’s death and is determined to die by her side. He buys some poison from an apothecary and makes the return journey to Verona. Scene 2: The Friar finds out that his letter explaining the plan about Juliet’s faked death was not delivered to Romeo. Scene 3: Paris is in Juliet’s chamber grieving her death when Romeo arrives. Romeo is apprehended by Paris and Romeo stabs him. Romeo kisses Juliet’s body and takes the poison. The Friar arrives to find Romeo dead. Juliet wakes to find Romeo dead and no poison left for her, she uses the dagger to kill herself in grief. When the Montagues and Capulets arrive, the Friar explains the events leading to the tragedy. The Prince pleads with the Montagues and Capulets to bury their grievances and acknowledge their losses. The Montague and Capulet families finally lay their feud to rest.

Pharmacy as a Career Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Pharmacy as a Career - Essay Example Currently, I am pursuing a Bachelor in Biochemistry at Middle Tennessee State University. It has given me a strong grounding of medicinal chemistry and pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmaceutics practice and pharmacology. My areas of interest include cell and molecular biology, medicines design, disease pathology, pharmacology and systematic physiology. Studying Biochemistry, I have learned that my strength lies in the field of pharmacy and pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree will help fulfill my goals in the future. My educational background has assisted much in shaping my career goals and interests. I have worked as a CVS for two years as a Pharmacy Technician. While working in this position, I was responsible, diligent, paid attention to details pertaining to the job. I worked with a large number of patients with diverse health conditions and offered unwavering assistance in improving and maintaining their health. By offering assistance to patients I gained positive interpersonal a nd professional skills in dealing with patients. I am also a member of pre-script, a club of medical pre-professionals, where I enjoy meeting new people allowing me to acquire a greater understanding of their perception, theories, and ideas in the field of pharmacy. Undertaking self-development, work-based and research assignments, I will manage projects, which can contribute to the field of pharmacy, while working in the clinic or the laboratory environment. I am eagerly anticipating the challenge of a career involving lifelong learning.