Charlie Rivas

Rhetoric 103A

Kwan Hua

8 October 2016

The Paternalistic, Understanding Qualities of Socrates

              In Plato’s Protagoras, Socrates’ young friend Hippocrates, wishes to learn the art of rhetoric from Protagoras, a sophist, whom is known as the “wisest of all men.” However, Hippocrates first seeks the guidance of Socrates. Thus Socrates ends up accompanying him, which leads him into a dialogue with Protagoras, revolving primarily over the ability to know and teach virtue.

            Protagoras as a text, can be broken down into three main dialogues. The first occurs in the beginning, when Socrates encounters his companion. To this companion, Socrates narrates his encounter with Hippocrates, which transforms into the second dialogue. The third dialogue, often considered the most important, develops when Socrates encounters Protagoras. However, although the first two lack a Socratic dialogue, they are still important, since Plato uses them to imbue Socrates with an understanding and paternalistic ethos, whom has a genuine care for the youth. It is this ethos that justifies Socrates' ability to guide the youth. To be clear, Socrates claims to know nothing, however, this introspective knowledge, paradoxically hints that he knows something. Plato therefore constructs Socrates’ ability to guide and know others, always in relation to the understanding of the self, reflected on others, in particular, the youth.

            A paternalistic stance is taken with Socrates and Hippocrates. When Hippocrates first calls to Socrates, Socrates states, “I knew his voice, and said: Hippocrates, is that you? And do you bring any news?” Socrates asserts that he knew it was Hippocrates since he recognized the voice, yet he chooses remain ambiguous by asking if it is him, and even follows up by asking if he bring any news, again confirming that he knows who it is, and implying that he knows he brings news. Therefore, there is an understanding that Socrates intimately knows the youth, for the fact that he recognizes his voice and knows what potentially brings him there; this knowledge is plausible since it immediately becomes known, that Socrates was aware of Protagoras arrival, therefore, possibly aware of the news Hippocrates was bringing. Socrates then explicitly claims the following in regards to Hippocrates: “I who knew the very courageous madness of the man.” Socrates thus asserts that he knows the qualities and passions of a youth that he takes a paternal position over. Thus Plato, has imbued Socrates with a genuine care for the youth by constructing him with the ability to understand their passions and qualities.

Furthermore, the qualities/passions that Socrates claims Hippocrates has are those of madness and courage, however this madness and courage did not derail him from first seeking Socrates, rather than going directly to Protagoras. Socrates then asks, “I wonder whether you know what you are doing?” to which Hippocrates replies “and what am I doing.” Hippocrates is aware that Socrates hold knowledge about him, that he is yet to understand. Socrates then replies, “You are going to commit you soul.” Socrates then uses the consumption of food for the body analogous to the absorption of knowledge for the soul. Implying that he knows what is nutritious for the soul, and therefore vital to one’s health. Contrastingly, if he knows what is good, he knows what is harmful to the soul. Again, this knowledge is only in relation to Hippocrates, and stated in good will, through a paternal role. It can be assumed that even if he does not know the things he speaks about, it doesn’t matter since they are good willing and in relation to what he does know, and that is the intrinsic qualities (by qualities I speak of personality, characteristics, their human tendencies, etc.) of others. This assumption can be ascertained, by observing that Socrates seemingly chastises Hippocrates for going to Protagoras without consulting others: “You don’t consult your father, brothers or any of your companions.” Therefore, it is implied that Socrates isn’t his father, brother or a companion, then it must be inferred the Socrates is regarded as something higher, potentially wiser since Hippocrates takes his consultation in high regard.

            Thus, Plato uses the first dialogues in Protagoras to construct Socrates as a good willed, understanding, paternalistic figure. Since Socrates’ is capable of knowing and understanding himself, he is in reflection capable of knowing and understanding others. Therefore, he holds the self-asserted responsibility to guide others, in contrast to Protagoras who teaches persuasion, and that anyone is capable of "guiding" others.