I barely recalled this, but came across the quote again tonight: “When it comes to atoms, language can only be used as poetry.” (Neils Bohr referring to the absurd behavior of elementary particles.) I wonder what a conversation between Socrates and Neils would be like...with Ion listening. 🤔😊
When Ion says, essentially, that his performance may be worthy of a crown, it is then that Socrates turns his reply, “Yes, indeed;” and that maybe one day he will listen. Is Socrates patronizing him, or encouraging him to go further in his learning of the meaning in poetry? Socrates believes there can be no rhapsodes without full understanding of the poetry. And though it may be worthy of a crown, it isn’t worth Socrates’ time to attend until he knows Ion has mastered the philosophy inherent, or the ethics, in the poetry. In some ways, isn’t this like when you ask someone to join you in an activity, somewhat new to them, but knowledgeable by you, but you respectfully decline? In so many words, isn’t Socrates saying he has better things to do with his time? Is this condescending of Socrates? I can parallel this dialogue with calls from friends or colleagues around the world, to assess if it’s worth my time to join them. In fact, in smaller ways, aren’t we doing this everyday? 😊
Yeah, I don't think Socrates is being condescending, he's just interested in the substance of Ion's argument rather than in his performance. We'll see as we keep digging into the Ion, in future episodes, that the real crux of the matter is that rhapsodes and poets claimed expertise in moral matters, which Plato denied, thinking it the province of philosophers. Interestingly, the discussion goes on today whenever I have a conversation with colleagues in the literature department about the ethics of fiction writing.
I specifically used “condescending” because I was lambasted yesterday on my own FB page posing a question with “🤔.” I wanted to know the meaning of the astronomical term “full eclipse” circulating lately by journalists. I started a dialogue but the comments tended to ridiculing ones by my friends and followers. Her invective comment was I am condescending, snobby and a jerk.I never heard anyone say that to me before. I agree there is misleading terminology in science. But “full” doesn’t apply here--and can be dangerous. “Fully” does describe a condition of certain circumstances, but it is not a type of eclipse. The media do not know, and don’t most don’t care to learn. Thankfully, my anger management studies in Stoicism lately had me take the high road in my reply, “It was meant as helpful comment.” Anyway , her real agenda is to be on Stephen Colbert. She told me so once many, many moons ago and probably forgot.🙄
I barely recalled this, but came across the quote again tonight: “When it comes to atoms, language can only be used as poetry.” (Neils Bohr referring to the absurd behavior of elementary particles.) I wonder what a conversation between Socrates and Neils would be like...with Ion listening. 🤔😊
😆
I laughed out loud at the ‘close’ “...and one day I’ll find myself time to listen to you”.
😆
When Ion says, essentially, that his performance may be worthy of a crown, it is then that Socrates turns his reply, “Yes, indeed;” and that maybe one day he will listen. Is Socrates patronizing him, or encouraging him to go further in his learning of the meaning in poetry? Socrates believes there can be no rhapsodes without full understanding of the poetry. And though it may be worthy of a crown, it isn’t worth Socrates’ time to attend until he knows Ion has mastered the philosophy inherent, or the ethics, in the poetry. In some ways, isn’t this like when you ask someone to join you in an activity, somewhat new to them, but knowledgeable by you, but you respectfully decline? In so many words, isn’t Socrates saying he has better things to do with his time? Is this condescending of Socrates? I can parallel this dialogue with calls from friends or colleagues around the world, to assess if it’s worth my time to join them. In fact, in smaller ways, aren’t we doing this everyday? 😊
Yeah, I don't think Socrates is being condescending, he's just interested in the substance of Ion's argument rather than in his performance. We'll see as we keep digging into the Ion, in future episodes, that the real crux of the matter is that rhapsodes and poets claimed expertise in moral matters, which Plato denied, thinking it the province of philosophers. Interestingly, the discussion goes on today whenever I have a conversation with colleagues in the literature department about the ethics of fiction writing.
I specifically used “condescending” because I was lambasted yesterday on my own FB page posing a question with “🤔.” I wanted to know the meaning of the astronomical term “full eclipse” circulating lately by journalists. I started a dialogue but the comments tended to ridiculing ones by my friends and followers. Her invective comment was I am condescending, snobby and a jerk.I never heard anyone say that to me before. I agree there is misleading terminology in science. But “full” doesn’t apply here--and can be dangerous. “Fully” does describe a condition of certain circumstances, but it is not a type of eclipse. The media do not know, and don’t most don’t care to learn. Thankfully, my anger management studies in Stoicism lately had me take the high road in my reply, “It was meant as helpful comment.” Anyway , her real agenda is to be on Stephen Colbert. She told me so once many, many moons ago and probably forgot.🙄
But were they full moons? 😆
Sorry you had to endure the abuse. But as you say, good Stoic exercise. I'm glad I'm not completely off both Twitter and Facebook.
Yes, Ion does have more than enough rope. But we'll see in the next episodes that it gets a bit deeper than that.