Socrates and Responsibility and Knowledge 22 September, 2007

Socrates never wrote anything. What we know of his life, teachings and impact on Athenian society is from others, like Plato and Xenophon, who were students and associates and who published various dialogues about the man. His reasoning for never publishing any material of his own was basically to prevent the misuse or perversion of knowledge. He asserted that once something was written, it could be read by any one, and that not just any person was deserved of knowledge (or at least his knowledge, I suppose).

Socrates image from http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/socr.htm

This attempt to make wisdom exclusive was grounded in Socrates’ belief that with knowledge came responsibility – that knowledge cannot simply be possessed, but must also be managed. His method of teaching was oration. The old sophist would hold lectures and speak to people whom he deemed worthy… or responsible enough for him to pass his knowledge and his questions on to. In this sense, Socrates made sure always to have students, and never simply readers, of his philosophies.

A professor named Alan Levine, who I currently have for a course called Ancient Political Thought, gave the following example of how knowledge does indeed come with responsibility: suppose scientists know how to configure a powerful nuclear device decide to publish their works, and make them available to anyone. Rogue governments, and any one with the proper resources – who just needed instructions – could now build the most deadly bomb. Very likely, the scientists would defend themselves by saying something like, ‘I just published my work, it’s not my problem who reads it… I have the freedom to write whatever I choose, and they are responsible for what they do with that information.’ Professor Levine described this as being Socrates’ worst nightmare. According to the ancient Athenian, both parties would be responsible for the creation of a nuclear weapon, and equally so.

Jameson Freeman, image by Mark Furner Photography © 2007

The black and white shot of me being included in the same post as a bust of Socrates is meant to be slightly offensive and very, very arrogant.  It is my blog that you’re reading, isn’t it?  While I risk their misuse in sharing them, I hope my imitation pearls of wisdom encourage you to consider past philosophies - and create your own - in light of our current political atmosphere.