2 upvotes, 1 direct replies (showing 1)
View submission: How does a layman go about understanding philosophy?
There’s a couple of techniques passed down over the years, some I developed, which I’ll distill as bullet points that you might want to consider:
• Read slowly, word for word, and look up definitions or etymology
• Unpack metaphors or similes to get what is succinctly being compared
• Each sentence usually has a ‘subject’ and ‘predicate’, that is, there’s something and attributes about that thing. Identify those, outline the general topics (or subjects)
• Spot conclusions and premises; what is controversial (up in the air) and what is the evidence (facts). Do you agree with them?
• Pay very close attention to the first couple of pages
• Read twice. First read through normally to survey the text, then read again to make connections
• Use commentary (secondary sources) which talks about the original translation / writing (primary sources)
• Ask yourself: what is the case; how do they know it is the case
• Revisit it later on when you have some life experience to engage
For what it’s worth, the first time I read ‘Republic’, I glossed through the first couple of pages. I thought it was setting up a background, and the main event was the first “real” argument with Thrasymachus; it was an assignment, so skipping around was part of the ’trick’ to get through school and deadlines. Recently, I spent about a couple of week’s time to unpack the first page and there is a lot going on that I missed from the start to Cephalus leaving.
I asked myself a lot of questions, including:
• What’s important about Thrace? Bendis?
• Why was it important to mention horse races with torches at night?
• Why was Glaucon so agreeable? Who is Glaucon again? Who are the other speakers?
• What compelled Socrates to go in the first place when he wanted to leave so quickly?
• Voegelin places importance in katabasis. What is the central theme here?
• What’s the connection to Orpheus, Heroics, Socrates, Thrace, and this opening line?
• This is a retelling, and is it foreshadowing the recollection myth?
• Sorgrue mentions that an ad hoc democracy appears before Socrates and Glaucon, stopping them from leaving. What was implied here? Does it imply the physical presence of many people equating to justice, or perhaps the overall theme is about dominance?
• Can justice be inherited like wealth?
• They changed governments three times, so was the democracy more just?
• And so on…
By using the aforementioned techniques, I felt I had a good report and reading of the first couple of pages in ‘Republic’. I was able to find answers to my own questions, engage with the text on a deeper level, and keep about 3-7 important concepts in mind as I went through different parts of ‘Republic’.
So, what do I do with this? Now, I think about the things I have learned and apply it; this is ‘doing’ philosophy. For example, I found a passage in ‘Republic’ that says Socrates was not for unfettered freedom, as a horse can run wild and trample people in their path, but there’s something to it by placing rules — not advocating total lawlessness nor extreme control — for the sake of the horse or art. For example, I think I can try to incorporate it into art; namely, photography. In order to have a “good photo”, you have to strike a balance between zero composition and control with letting the device do everything. Don’t let money influence this, as that’s a separate topic (what’s ‘good’, then, is what people would be willing to pay). The lessons I learned also extends beyond art.
In conclusion, try some of those tips you find appealing. Ask questions. Answer them. Find a way to apply what you learn.
Comment by probablynewaccount at 27/09/2024 at 18:50 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
All of these seems like good points and I'll make sure to consider and try them out in my reading. I appreciate that you've given me some examples of your insights into The Republic too. Thanks!