Socrates: The Overrated Philosopher

Socrates

Before taking PoliSci 101, I had only read excerpts from Plato’s “Apology” and “Crito” in high school. After listening to my history teachers rave about Socrates for 4 years, I had the preconceived notion that Socrates was an untouchable genius, like Dumbledore from Harry Potter. However, after reading the full texts and listening to Professor L-M’s criticism of Socrates, I started to question Socrates’ credentials. In the texts, Socrates fails to defend himself against the Athenian elite who accuse him of corrupting the youth. In the “Apology”, Socrates stands trial and gives a bogus defense in which he mocks his accusers instead of defending against their accusations. Socrates’ poor defense leads to his conviction and death sentence. The story picks up in “Crito” when Crito visits Socrates in jail and urges him to escape before his execution. In response, Socrates concludes that he must adhere to the jury’s fatal decision. In his rationalization, Socrates gives an incomplete argument when he offers no justification for why a person should not commit an evil against another evil to make a right. Professor L-M suggested that Socrates makes this lackluster argument because he simply can’t offer any justification for disobedience. Ultimately, Socrates’ poor defense and inability to rationalize disobedience result in his execution. While I certainly don’t think Socrates is an idiot, his inability to defend himself suggests that he is unworthy of being recognized as the West’s greatest philosopher.

Kim Kardashian

After realizing that Socrates’ intelligence doesn’t exactly warrant his notoriety, I noticed that many individuals are publicly revered despite their lack of talent. For example, KimKardashian, who stars in the reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”, has achieved immense popularity in the entertainment world even though she has no notable talent. Despite the fact that she can’t sing, dance, or act, Kardashian is among the highest paid TV stars in the US and is a staple in American pop culture. Likewise, NFL quarterback Tim Tebow is arguably the most popular athlete in sports despite his league-worst 46.5 completion percentage last season. As an outspoken Christian, Tebow attracted a firestorm of attention that earned him numerous endorsement deals and made his jersey the second-highest sellingjersey in the NFL. Similarly, Bill O’Reilly has garnered popularity in the political arena despite his shortcomings. Although O’Reilly authored the inaccurate book “Killing Lincoln” and frequently uses belligerent rhetoric in his arguments, American conservatives continue to value his opinion and tune into his talk show “The O’Reilly Factor”, which remains among the most popular in the country. In all three cases, each person’s popularity seems to exceed his or her talent.

Tim Tebow

So how do these individuals gain such notoriety without possessing significant talent? This phenomenon is made possible due to their marketability. In essence, each person caters to a specific audience and fulfills their needs. For example, Kim Kardashian provides drama and scandal to viewers who crave for more excitement in their lives. As a passionate Christian, Tim Tebow satisfies the Christian population’s desire for a vocal, God-fearing athlete. With his off-the-cuff remarks and simplistic ideas, Bill O’Reilly offers the every-day American a simplified opinion regarding today’s complex political issues. In each case, the individual’s appeal minimizes his lack of talent and results in notoriety.

As an individual that lacks talent but enjoys a surplus of popularity, Socrates also fulfills a need for his audience, which I consider to be academics considering they are responsible for his esteemed reputation. Specifically, Socrates provides them with a unique method of questioning, known as the Socratic Method. By giving his audience this unorthodox technique, Socrates shifts their focus away from the content of his argument and onto his methodology. In addition, Socrates unintentionally acts as a martyr when he fails to save himself from execution. Since the Athenians executed Socrates for encouraging students to question tradition, Socrates became the poster-boy for counter-culture movements that have been consistently supported by many academics and political activists. Socrates’ appeal to his fellow academics overshadows his poor arguments and contributes to his fame.

I’m sure many of you, including my GSI Ben Peterson, consider my opinion on Socrates blasphemous. Please understand, however, that my position is based solely on my reading of the two texts and Professor L-M’s lecture. I have no other knowledge of Socrates to form my opinion around. Also keep in mind that the “Apology” and “Crito” were written by Plato, not Socrates. Consequently, my stance is grounded on Plato’s account of the events. It’s plausible that Plato had a motivation for making Socrates’ appear less intelligent, so his account, and therefore my position, may not accurately reflect Socrates’ true intellect. If you think Socrates, or any of the people mentioned, has the talent to justify his notoriety, feel free to defend him.