more Socrates...have I exhausted the subject yet?

Yes, I am working on the study guide yet again...

So people refer to it as Socratic Irony. I never really stopped to think about exactly what this means before. So irony, when refering to Socrates is using of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning. Dictionary.com defines Socratic Irony as "pretended ignorance in a discussion."

This means that Socrates admits his own ignorance and willingness to learn and in doing so, ends up exposing someone else's inconsistencies by close questioning.

Genius. He gives people the impression that he knows nothing which in turn boosts their self confidence (they think they know something.)

Socrates was supposedly told by an Oracle that he was the wisest man in the world. Maybe this is mythical bullshit but nevertheless, I think the statement in itself it is true. What makes Socrates so incredible is that he was fully conscious and aware of the scope of his wisdom AND also knew the extent of his own ignorance.

-AD