Plato Course Announcement

Plato's elite Pedagogy

I am happy to announce that I have released a new course on Gumroad titled ‘Plato’s Elite Pedagogy’. As you might be able to guess by the title, the course is designed as an analysis of Plato’s more pedagogical texts; by this I mean texts that depict dialogues between older and younger Athenian men, either with Socrates playing the direct role of the teacher, or as somebody who attempts to mediate the relationship between old and young, teacher and student, and exemplify a more philosophically virtuous relation between them.

For example, in Laches, we see two older Athenian men inquire into the question of how virtues can be transmitted between one generation and another. Lysimachus and Melesias invite Socrates to assist them into the inquiry of how this virtue is transmitted(Lysimachus is the son of the renowned Athenian statesmen and general, Aristides, while Melesias was possibly the son of Thucydides — or perhaps it refers to Thucydides own father). Although the dialogue is usually summarised as an inquiry into the nature of courage, dialectically argued between Nicias and Laches(both who express different styles of military virtue), I believe that the implicit context of the sons of great men failing to inherit a certain standard of virtue and fearing for the development and education of their own sons and grandsons, is the unappreciated but equally important lens to read these dialogues through.

The same can be said about many of Plato’s texts. Alcibiades, Lysis and Charmides, all inquire into a specific virtue(ambition, friendship, temperance), yet the underlying importance of these dialogues expands further out than a rational inquiry into specific virtues. The relational and educational practice and paradigms by which the inquiry and transmission of these virtues takes place, is also being pointed to by Plato in these writings.

Many of the characters were real people. And thus a reading of these texts in such a manner, should also contextualise the more theoretical discussion with the historical reality that the Athenians found themselves in, in their time.

Socrates was ultimately trialled and accused of corrupting the youth. Yet, who else was treated in such a similar manner? Alcibiades, one of Socrates favourite students, and before him Thucydides and Themistocles, were all sent into exile by the Athenian assembly. We could safely assume that both the historical documentation of Socrates’ conversations with the Athenians, and also the larger political question of who should and shouldn’t be given the authority to lead and not to mention educate the young, was always in the mind of Plato as he wrote these dialogues. Therefore the figure of Socrates should be seen in that historical and political contexts—what we might call the politics of pedagogy—and not simply as somebody who initiated rational inquiries into goods, truths and virtues.

This is why the course comes with two extra video lectures on Plutarch’s ‘The Rise and Fall of Athens’, or at least the sections that cover the Sicilian campaign (which is known to be a major turning point in the downfall of Athens), and the role that Nicias and Alcibiades played in that campaign.

Alcibiades was removed from his position of general before the war even began. Nicias was left in charge and ultimately a series of blunders led to the Athenians losing the bulk of their army, including the execution of Nicias himself.

Nicias and Alcibiades represent two very different expressions of Greek virtue. One a younger, more ambitious, somewhat more arrogant but very good at thinking on his feet and taking initiative(what was later called by Napoleonic era military theorists Coup’Doeil). And the other, in Nicias, a cautious and prudent but slow to adapt and less virile commander. Both obviously come with the benefits and limits, but they way in which the Sicilian campaign played out is somewhat an uncanny expression of the very politics of Athens at the time.

We finally end with a better context to read the Apology through. We can now analyse the accusation of corrupting the youth through a novel contextual framework which I believe most academic analysis of Socrates as a historical figure, fails to achieve. Remember — Plato was a dramatist as much as a typical philosopher. His dialogues depict human relations with characters that represent distinct beliefs, temperaments and social roles. Beyond a rational inquiry, the historical dimension of the Athenian people is crucial to reading Plato properly.

The course comes with a number of video lectures listed as follows. It also comes with a private video call with myself, in order to discuss the readings and lectures further.

-Laches (courage)

-Charmides (temperance)

-Alcibiades (ambition or thrasos)

-Lysis (friendship or philia)

- Alcibiades and his exile (a reading of Plutarch)

-Nicias and the Syracuse campaign (a reading of Plutarch)

-The Apology (analysing the accusations)

There are many contemporary phenomena which I believe makes such a course relevant today. The decline of liberal elites, the fall of university institutions, the politics of educational leadership and influence (think of issues to do with internet famous people such as Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate, as incomparable to Socrates as they might be, there remains some relevance). The nature of virtue, potentiality and ambition and how social relations in education and politics may affect it.

If you have any questions about this course, please feel free to send me a message through Twitter or owenleyshon02@gmail.com