- The Stoa Letter
- Posts
- Socratic Justice
Welcome to The Stoa Letter, the newsletter on Stoic theory and practice.
🏛️ Theory
Socrates was one of the Stoics’ key role models.
In many respects, Stoicism is best understood as a Socratic philosophy.
The Stoics took Socrates’ key ideas about knowledge and virtue and systematized them into a philosophy for life.
But Stoics took more than theory from Socrates, because his behavior was exemplary too.
Socrates is well known for the Socratic method. He would traipse around the public square asking his friends, strangers, and anyone who would talk to him about the nature of things: justice, friendship, the good, knowledge. This practice is, at its best, a rigorous tool for sharpening thought. It’s proved a model for thinkers and educators throughout the ages.
This tendency to ask questions – in a systematic and thoughtful way – while remaining grounded in the world of action captures the theoretical and practical ideal. By improving our thinking, we improve our behavior.
Socrates was an admired citizen and loved friend. His conduct during the Peloponnesian War was heroic.
During one of these discussions on the nature of justice, one of his interlocutors became frustrated. He exclaimed: why don’t you just tell us the nature of justice, Socrates?
Socrates responded:
“If I don't reveal my views on justice in words, I do so by my conduct.”
It’s a simple answer we can all aspire to.
🎯 Action
Show your values in your conduct today.
Learn AI in 5 minutes a day
What’s the secret to staying ahead of the curve in the world of AI? Information. Luckily, you can join 1,000,000+ early adopters reading The Rundown AI — the free newsletter that makes you smarter on AI with just a 5-minute read per day.
đź”— More Links
🎧️ Learn more about the Socratic method:
📖 If you’d like a book-length treatment try Ward Farnsworth’s book The Socratic Method.
What did you think about today's letter? |
Reply