Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1999 11:02:35 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Rooney <rooney-AT-tiger.cc.oxy.edu>
Subject: Re: Sophists




On Wed, 30 Jun 1999, Kirk Johnson wrote:

> > >> > Can anyone suggest a philosopher (sophist or otherwise) who values 
> > >> > wisdom, but not the appearance of it?
> > >> 
> > >> Socrates.  
> > > 
> > > I should say that Socrates was rather more preoccupied by his 
> > > appearance than a number of philosophers I would be willing to think 
> > > less wise. What other philosopher has made such a point of discussing 
> > > his baldness, gait, tastes in food, habits of speech, as though all these 
> > > were proper philosophical concerns?
> > 
> > You are confusing Socrates with the writers of
> > Socratic dialogues.
> > 
> Or perhaps I have confused Socrates with the appearance of Socrates? 

In which case you have missed the point, just like
Alcibiades.


> > >> > Or who values neither wisdom, nor the appearance of it?
> > >> 
> > >> No one springs to mind.  But there are some people
> > >> who do not value their friends, so perhaps there is
> > >> a philosopher who does not value wisdom.
> > > 
> > > Could one say Kierkegaard does not value wisdom? (He claims not to 
> > > value it in its Socratic form.) Of course he is rather vain about his 
> > > literary abilities, but no one takes those for signs of wisdom. Just the 
> > > opposite.
> > 
> > But Kierkegaard would insist that he is a Christian,
> > not a philosopher.
> > 
> You understand me perfectly.

Okie-dokie.


Cordially,

M.