Between Want and Good: The Missing Bridge in Socratic Philosophy
Faculty Mentor
Thomas Hawley
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
5-7-2025 9:40 AM
End Date
5-7-2025 10:00 AM
Location
PUB 323
Primary Discipline of Presentation
Social Studies
Abstract
This essay critically examines the implications of Socrates’ failure to provide a concrete method for distinguishing between superficial desires and those that contribute to genuine well-being. Central to Socratic ethics is the belief that virtue is knowledge and that individuals who understand what is good will naturally pursue it. However, Socrates does not offer a reliable framework to guide individuals in identifying which desires truly align with the good. This omission undermines his philosophical claim that knowledge leads to virtue and ultimately, happiness. Without clear guidance, people may act immorally despite knowing what is good, due to unchecked or misunderstood desires. Socratic concepts such as the care of the soul and the importance of justice are weakened by the absence of a mechanism to separate short-term gratification from long-term fulfillment. While the Socratic method (elenchos) promotes critical self-reflection, it primarily deconstructs flawed reasoning without offering constructive ethical direction. This gap in Socrates’ philosophy not only impacts individual moral development but also allows for moral relativism, particularly among those in positions of power. The essay concludes that without a practical means to align desires with virtue, Socrates’ ethical vision remains compelling in theory but inadequate in practice.
Recommended Citation
Pozernick, Mia G., "Between Want and Good: The Missing Bridge in Socratic Philosophy" (2025). 2025 Symposium. 5.
https://dc.ewu.edu/srcw_2025/op_2025/o4_2025/5
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Between Want and Good: The Missing Bridge in Socratic Philosophy
PUB 323
This essay critically examines the implications of Socrates’ failure to provide a concrete method for distinguishing between superficial desires and those that contribute to genuine well-being. Central to Socratic ethics is the belief that virtue is knowledge and that individuals who understand what is good will naturally pursue it. However, Socrates does not offer a reliable framework to guide individuals in identifying which desires truly align with the good. This omission undermines his philosophical claim that knowledge leads to virtue and ultimately, happiness. Without clear guidance, people may act immorally despite knowing what is good, due to unchecked or misunderstood desires. Socratic concepts such as the care of the soul and the importance of justice are weakened by the absence of a mechanism to separate short-term gratification from long-term fulfillment. While the Socratic method (elenchos) promotes critical self-reflection, it primarily deconstructs flawed reasoning without offering constructive ethical direction. This gap in Socrates’ philosophy not only impacts individual moral development but also allows for moral relativism, particularly among those in positions of power. The essay concludes that without a practical means to align desires with virtue, Socrates’ ethical vision remains compelling in theory but inadequate in practice.
