Socratic Dialogue, Essay Example

When I read the Socratic dialogue and Common-Sense Religion, I was surprised by how the ideas of Plato (or, perhaps, Socrates) are echoed in our time. The resemblance does not lie on the surface. It is not that Daniel C. Dennett invites us to define the notions “holy” or “pious”. However, both authors ask us to think for ourselves instead of trusting blindly and, consequently, delegating our personal responsibility to any idol. Although Plato does not say it directly, Socrates, his main character and, presumably, inspirator, makes his Euthyphro question a number of notions which the latter must have considered doubtless and, by doing this, to think for himself and work out his own judgment. For me, this is the main idea of both authors. An individual is responsible for his or her life and must think about it.

It is interesting that both authors wrote in the epochs which presented (or, in the case of Dennett, still presents) a multitude of ideas and beliefs to choose from. In Ancient Greece, this was inherent to polytheism with each god embodying a different virtue, patronizing a different sphere of life, and often having very unpleasant personal traits like cruelty or jealousness. In our time, suffice it to leave one’s house and go in the street to see a number of people who would hold absolutely different religious, political, and ethical beliefs. I liked Dennett’s idea about a need for counsel in this situation. Many of us often feel they would be happy to follow someone’s clear and trustful instructions. Yet, a person is left to decide on one’s own if he / she wants it to be really his / her life, not someone else’s.

Another idea, expressed by both authors, is that of relativity of what we consider true or not. Plato explains it with logical argumentation offered to contradicting viewpoints, while Dennett just reminds the reader of a multitude of choices available to a modern person. However, so gentle and kind is the very spirit of both writings, that it is very hard to make cynical conclusions from such relativity. Both works teach us tolerance and responsibility for what we choose to believe in.