Honestly, this Socrates thing is my tinfoil hat conspiracy.
The fact that he is remembered as an abstract philosopher rather than a political one is some bullshit.
it’s like in 2400 years from now kids will be learning about how Hitler though the consciousness work with absolutely no mention of his antidemocratic ideas. (this example is likely an exaggeration, but the point remains).
And one reason why he is the main source of western philosophy is because Plato practically invented him. Plato was also a staunch antidemocrat, and so was his student Aristotle.
And when massive non democratic empire rose in the region (Alexander the great), it pushed Aristotle as the primary school of thought of the new empire.
Then after a while all the politics were sanitized out of them and they are remembered for things like their ethics or world views detached of politics.
These were extremely political actors. whos policies are definitely way outside our current zeitgeist. but we still hold on to them.
Like Jordan Peterson is a “Philosopher” propping up the alt right. Socrates-Plato-Aristotle were propping up the tyrants at the time.
If someone asks me how radicalized I am, I can point at this.
Thank you, this was eye opening for me. For some reason in my philosophy classes Aristotle’s popularity was somewhat contextualized but Socrates and Plato’s views were taken at face value, as if their anti democratic views are different than today’s just because someone expressed them thousands of years ago.
Also makes me wonder if the framing of Socrates as the “every man’s philosopher” in opposition to the establishment philosophers who only cared about philosophy for their job is similarly biased
Erastophanes “The clouds” is a play mocking Socrates, and it portrayed him as a complete grifter and connman. although if we consider that Socrates was the only honest one in a corrupt system, then said critique isn’t a critique but evidence that “grifters” didn’t like him and where perhaps projecting. But I do think his staunch antidemocratic views are red flags that shouldn’t be brushed under the rug, especially since he didn’t have any remorse about the coup in his trial.
But if we had someone today, calling all mainstream education a scam and supporting antidemocratic dictators… nevermind we do have those today. Some are even failed boxers like Plato was.
My biggest red flag is that during school, and highschool, and practically every philosophy video/essay about Socrates, the consequences of his antidemocratic rethoric is/was never even mentioned.
Every highschooler will quote “I only know I only noting” or “Plato’s cave” but no one has even heard of the 30 tyrants.
Honestly, this Socrates thing is my tinfoil hat conspiracy.
The fact that he is remembered as an abstract philosopher rather than a political one is some bullshit.
it’s like in 2400 years from now kids will be learning about how Hitler though the consciousness work with absolutely no mention of his antidemocratic ideas. (this example is likely an exaggeration, but the point remains).
And one reason why he is the main source of western philosophy is because Plato practically invented him. Plato was also a staunch antidemocrat, and so was his student Aristotle.
And when massive non democratic empire rose in the region (Alexander the great), it pushed Aristotle as the primary school of thought of the new empire.
Then after a while all the politics were sanitized out of them and they are remembered for things like their ethics or world views detached of politics.
These were extremely political actors. whos policies are definitely way outside our current zeitgeist. but we still hold on to them.
Like Jordan Peterson is a “Philosopher” propping up the alt right. Socrates-Plato-Aristotle were propping up the tyrants at the time.
If someone asks me how radicalized I am, I can point at this.
Thank you, this was eye opening for me. For some reason in my philosophy classes Aristotle’s popularity was somewhat contextualized but Socrates and Plato’s views were taken at face value, as if their anti democratic views are different than today’s just because someone expressed them thousands of years ago.
Also makes me wonder if the framing of Socrates as the “every man’s philosopher” in opposition to the establishment philosophers who only cared about philosophy for their job is similarly biased
Erastophanes “The clouds” is a play mocking Socrates, and it portrayed him as a complete grifter and connman. although if we consider that Socrates was the only honest one in a corrupt system, then said critique isn’t a critique but evidence that “grifters” didn’t like him and where perhaps projecting. But I do think his staunch antidemocratic views are red flags that shouldn’t be brushed under the rug, especially since he didn’t have any remorse about the coup in his trial.
But if we had someone today, calling all mainstream education a scam and supporting antidemocratic dictators… nevermind we do have those today. Some are even failed boxers like Plato was.
My biggest red flag is that during school, and highschool, and practically every philosophy video/essay about Socrates, the consequences of his antidemocratic rethoric is/was never even mentioned.
Every highschooler will quote “I only know I only noting” or “Plato’s cave” but no one has even heard of the 30 tyrants.