- How does Socrates argue for this conclusion?
As previously mentioned Socrates uses a basic argument for this conclusion by referring to two types of war man. The war man who has the superior knowledge, the better classed fighters who are prepared to support him and the war man who doesn’t have these. Socrates asks Laches who would be more courageous out of the two, when Laches tells him the man from the opposing camp who has no knowledge of the battle ahead neither that of his enemy would be the most courageous. Socrates then points out that surly a man going into such a battle would be foolish, which brings Laches back to courage being defined as foolish endurance again at this point.
- In readings 1.2 and 1.3, Laches has already offered two definitions of courage. Explain what they are and how Socrates argues against each of them. Then briefly identify one objection that might be made to one of Socrates’ arguments.
The first definition of courage that Laches offers is that of a military man prepared to do battle and not to retreat. However this answer from Laches is not broad enough for Socrates liking and he admits he may have asked the question in the wrong way. Socrates was looking for an answer that didn’t just relate to one specific area but to other areas of life as well as the battlefield. Socrates gives a basic example referring to “what is quickness” and gives his own answer explaining that quickness also involves many other aspects than just moving fast, such as learning, talking, doing activities with our hands. His answer to that is more specific and broadened to Laches simple original definition that courage is someone of war who does not retreat.
The second definition of courage that Laches offers is “Admirable Courage”. However Socrates argues that not all forms of courage are admirable. He offers that foolish courage is not admirable, but courage is meant to be admirable from their current discussion. This rules out that courage simply cannot be defined as one who is admirable and also neither that of someone whose courage could be viewed as foolishness.
An objection to Socrates arguments could be the way he has begun the argument itself in reading 1.2 Carolyn Price explains on the AA100 Audio disc, track 3 that beginning another argument on the definition of courage is not the only way to approach this discussion. Tim Chappell continues by mentioning that Socrates could have started the argument with what he already knew about courage and could have given examples to begin with. This in turn could have given Laches a clearer vision to the type of answer that Socrates was looking for from him. Socrates was able to come to a sound definition of quickness; had he started the argument on courage the same way the answer may have been clearer. Socrates assumes that if one really knows what courage is, one will be able to give a definition that identifies the common attribute that all examples of courage share.
Word Count: 581
Bibliography
Price, Carolyn, (2009), AA100, Plato on Tradition and Belief, Milton Keynes, The Open University
AA100, The Arts Past And Present, Assignment Booklet, pp 24-25
‘Plato’s Laches – a Discussion with Tim Chappell (2008) (AA100 Audio CD), Milton Keynes, The Open University
by
mattramsdenlivecouk (student)
