Jose Lourenco
José Lourenço is a faculty member of the Department of Philosophy at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. His research field is ancient Greek Philosophy
Address: Federal University of Santa Maria
Department of Philosophy
Av Roraima, 1000
Santa Maria - RS - Brazil
97105 900
Address: Federal University of Santa Maria
Department of Philosophy
Av Roraima, 1000
Santa Maria - RS - Brazil
97105 900
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to be prudent; this is the only way in which a person would do well, be good and happy.
in line with the fundamental values of the democratic culture of Athens. To
defend this interpretation, I focus on one of the most important principles of
democracy: free speech. Firstly, I go over the concept of freedom of speech. I
make it clear that, in the democratic political context, two Greek words convey
two connected but distinct meanings of free speech: isegoría, which means the
equal opportunity of all citizens to speak in the political assemblies; and
parrhesía, frank speaking, the freedom to criticize and “telling the truth as one
sees it”. Thereafter, I deal with three interconnected aspects of the Socratic
thought: the method of refutation (elenchos), the notion of “care of the self ”,
and the ideal of the examined life in order to display how these three things
presuppose or are based on the value of free speech. I highlight that it is necessary
that a person is seriously committed to pursuing and expressing the truth so
that she is able to evaluate her beliefs and get rid of the false ones. Accordingly,
this person can give an account of her own life by exposing if her thought,
speech and acts are in agreement, as well as she is able to lead an examined life,
putting herself and the others under scrutiny, practicing critical thinking which
is essential for the moral improvement and formation of a good citizen for a
democratic society. I conclude that to the extent that it fosters truth-telling,
Socratic critical attitude is not only consistent with the basic precepts of the
democratic regime, but also capable of enhancing democracy.
good and happy life. However, as shown in the Plato’s
Apology of Socrates, ignorance is part of the human condition; so, for man escaping from ignorance and all of its resultant vices, Socrates exhorted every one to dedicate to the self-examination and the examination of the others as a means to achieve the self-knowledge necessary for all moral and intelectual progress. Although the human beings are not able to achieve the moral knowledge and complete happiness that the gods have, the examined life and of persuit of virtue, according to Socrates, is for everyone the most worthy life of living, since it confers on an individual, to the extent of humanly possible, wisdom and happiness.
to be prudent; this is the only way in which a person would do well, be good and happy.
in line with the fundamental values of the democratic culture of Athens. To
defend this interpretation, I focus on one of the most important principles of
democracy: free speech. Firstly, I go over the concept of freedom of speech. I
make it clear that, in the democratic political context, two Greek words convey
two connected but distinct meanings of free speech: isegoría, which means the
equal opportunity of all citizens to speak in the political assemblies; and
parrhesía, frank speaking, the freedom to criticize and “telling the truth as one
sees it”. Thereafter, I deal with three interconnected aspects of the Socratic
thought: the method of refutation (elenchos), the notion of “care of the self ”,
and the ideal of the examined life in order to display how these three things
presuppose or are based on the value of free speech. I highlight that it is necessary
that a person is seriously committed to pursuing and expressing the truth so
that she is able to evaluate her beliefs and get rid of the false ones. Accordingly,
this person can give an account of her own life by exposing if her thought,
speech and acts are in agreement, as well as she is able to lead an examined life,
putting herself and the others under scrutiny, practicing critical thinking which
is essential for the moral improvement and formation of a good citizen for a
democratic society. I conclude that to the extent that it fosters truth-telling,
Socratic critical attitude is not only consistent with the basic precepts of the
democratic regime, but also capable of enhancing democracy.
good and happy life. However, as shown in the Plato’s
Apology of Socrates, ignorance is part of the human condition; so, for man escaping from ignorance and all of its resultant vices, Socrates exhorted every one to dedicate to the self-examination and the examination of the others as a means to achieve the self-knowledge necessary for all moral and intelectual progress. Although the human beings are not able to achieve the moral knowledge and complete happiness that the gods have, the examined life and of persuit of virtue, according to Socrates, is for everyone the most worthy life of living, since it confers on an individual, to the extent of humanly possible, wisdom and happiness.