In the Early Dialogues, Socrates relies on the method of elenchus to uncover the definitions of different virtues. What
Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2022 6:38 pm
In the Early Dialogues, Socrates relies on the method ofelenchus to uncover the definitions ofdifferent virtues. What is the method of elenchus (also known asthe 'Socratic Method') and how does Socrates employ the method toaccept or refute particular definitions? First, briefly define ordescribe the Socratic (or elenctic) method. Then, referring to eachof the three definitions of courage in the carly dialogue Laches,show how Socrates uses the elenctic method to refute thedefinitions of courage offered by Laches and Nicias. Does the factthat the use of Socratic method results in their inability tospecifically define courage, ending in an 'aporia," mean that themethod is not useful for the pursuit of knowledge or definition ofvirtues? Finally, how does this failure to define the specificvirtue of courage stem from Socrates' notion of the 'unity ofvirtues"?Word limit : 1200-1500