Remembering
Socrates: An Interview with Plato
The
great philosopher Socrates was executed 40 years ago this month. In honor
of his life, and to reflect on his tragic death, The Academy Journal interviewed
our own master, Plato, who came to know Socrates when he was a young man
living in Athens. Socrates greatly influenced Plato's life and ideas.
Socrates
was brought to trial and eventually executed for not believing in the
gods the state believes in, for introducing new divine powers, and for
corrupting the young. Though he and most of his followers did not think
these charges were just, Socrates chose to accept his death sentence rather
than try to escape from prison or admit wrongdoing. He was not afraid
of death and willingly drank the poison hemlock that killed him.
Xenocrates:
First of all, let me thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule
at the Academy to do this interview about Socrates.
Plato:
It is my pleasure, Xenocrates. I still feel sadness when I think of his
death. He was a great friend.
Xenocrates:
Tell me about your first encounter with Socrates.
Plato:
When I was a young man living in Athens, I often saw Socrates discussing
philosophical problems with people around the city.
He was a funny looking man -- plump, with a snub nose -- and he
wandered from place to place wearing only a raggedy woolen cloth
for clothing. He didn't even wear shoes! Though many thought he
was a nuisance, as he was always pestering people with questions,
he aroused my curiosity. For awhile I observed him at a distance,
but one day I saw him talking with a few other young men and decided
to join their discussion.
Xenocrates:
What was the discussion about?
Plato:
They were talking about justice. When I approached, Socrates turned to
me and asked, "What is justice?" I was confident that I knew the answer
to this simple question and gave him my answer. After all, my uncle Charmides
and cousin Critias had been prominent leaders in Athens, and I thought
that I knew something about justice. However, Socrates didn't accept my
response. He proceeded to ask me more questions and exposed all of the
weaknesses in my initial answer. I was humbled and embarrassed, but he
made me realize my ignorance. I wanted to learn more from him.
Xenocrates:
It has been said that Socrates received an oracle
from the god at Delphi.
Is this true? I have never been able to get the full story.
Plato:
In fact, it was Chaerephon, a friend of Socrates, who received the oracle.
The god told Chaerephon that Socrates was the wisest man. When Socrates
heard this, he was amazed, for he knew that he had no wisdom, small or
great. He therefore set out to prove the god wrong by talking to reputable
Athenian citizens. What he found was that many prominent people thought
they knew a lot, whereas they really knew nothing. Socrates was wiser
than them only because, as he said, "I neither know, nor think that I
know."
To
read more of the interview with Plato, go to Socrates'
Trial and Execution.