PQ27

Class Responses and Instructor Comments

>From MILDRED FERENTINO:

"That I am the kind of person to be a gift of the god to the city you might realize from the fact that it does not seem like human nature for me to have neglected all my own affairs and to have tolerated this neglect now for so many years while I was always concerned with you, approaching each one of you like a father or an elder brother to persuade you to care for virtue." Pg 35

>rm says: This doesn't explain the analogy, or how it relates to this point, that he works for the good of others.

>From Avrohom:

Is this why Socrates doesnt escape jail?

>rm says: I don't see that.

>From nr:

A gadfly is defined as a fly that buzzes in your ears, but understandably, is quite annoying...the anology compares the state of athens to a sluggish horse which means that everything was status quo and not moving in an upward direction, people were not questioning things about themselves or the state of athens... until socrates came along as "the gadfly" and started stirring things up. he sais that he is always arousing them and persuading them. this relates to his assertion that he is defending himself for the sake of athens because he believes that he was sent by god for this purpose of arousing, persuading,questiong,reproaching, ect. and that the people of athens need him because of this.

>rm says: Yes, Socrates saw himself as improving the city.

>From KAI YU and WAI YAN:

mankind needs some force to influence them to question what's around them.

rm says: That's what Socrates seemed to believe, about the people of Athens, anyway.

Plato Reading Guide 27. "I was attached to this city by the god... as upon a great a noble horse which was somewhat sluggish because of its size and needed to be stirred up by a kind of gadfly." (30e) Explain the analogy. How does this relate to Socrates' assertion that he defends himself not for his sake, but for the sake of others?		Back to Plato Reading Guide Back to Philosophy 101 Home Next Question
Enter your response to the above question, or to a previous response, in the form below, or use this email link. I will post your response on the right, and comment if I think I can be helpful. When emailing, instead of using the form, please indicate the question number. When using the form below, if you neglect to enter your name or email, I won't know who you are.	Class Responses and Instructor Comments >From MILDRED FERENTINO: "That I am the kind of person to be a gift of the god to the city you might realize from the fact that it does not seem like human nature for me to have neglected all my own affairs and to have tolerated this neglect now for so many years while I was always concerned with you, approaching each one of you like a father or an elder brother to persuade you to care for virtue." Pg 35 >rm says: This doesn't explain the analogy, or how it relates to this point, that he works for the good of others. >From Avrohom: Is this why Socrates doesnt escape jail? >rm says: I don't see that. >From nr: A gadfly is defined as a fly that buzzes in your ears, but understandably, is quite annoying...the anology compares the state of athens to a sluggish horse which means that everything was status quo and not moving in an upward direction, people were not questioning things about themselves or the state of athens... until socrates came along as "the gadfly" and started stirring things up. he sais that he is always arousing them and persuading them. this relates to his assertion that he is defending himself for the sake of athens because he believes that he was sent by god for this purpose of arousing, persuading,questiong,reproaching, ect. and that the people of athens need him because of this. >rm says: Yes, Socrates saw himself as improving the city. >From KAI YU and WAI YAN: mankind needs some force to influence them to question what's around them. rm says: That's what Socrates seemed to believe, about the people of Athens, anyway.
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