The Socratic Paradox and Its Enemies

ISBN: 0226891739

Author: Weiss, Roslyn

Condition: New

In The Socratic Paradox and Its Enemies, Roslyn Weiss argues that the Socratic paradoxes-no one does wrong willingly, virtue is knowledge, and all the virtues are one-are best understood as Socrates way of combating sophistic views: that no one is willingly just, those who are just and temperate are ignorant fools, and only some virtues (courage and wisdom) but not others (justice, temperance, and piety) are marks of true excellence.In Weisss view, the paradoxes express Socrates belief that wrongdoing fails to yield the happiness that all people want; it is therefore the unjust and immoderate who are the fools. The paradoxes thus emerge as Socrates means of championing the cause of justice in the face of those who would impugn it. Her fresh approach-ranging over six of Platos dialogues-is sure to spark debate in philosophy, classics, and political theory.Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with Weiss, it would be hard not to admire her extraordinarily penetrating analysis of the many overlapping and interweaving arguments running through the dialogues.-Daniel B. Gallagher, Classical OutlookMany scholars of Socratic philosophy . . . will wish they had written Weiss's book, or at least will wish that they had long ago read it.-Douglas V. Henry, Review of Politics