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> What you mean by that? I was thinking about a celebrated quotation by A.N.Whitehead: "The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradi
by enriquto 6y ago
> What you mean by that?
I was thinking about a celebrated quotation by A.N.Whitehead: "The safest general characterization of the European philosophical tradition is that it consists of a series of footnotes to Plato."
> it does not mean that we are defined by what his mentor supported
Plato's entire written corpus consists in Socrates speaking. If you accept Plato's great influence, you have that.
- jhbadger 6y agoSupposedly. We have no idea to what degree Plato's character of Socrates resembles the real one. It's a pretty common strategy even today to put one's own ideas into the mouths of famous dead people, as that makes them seem more profound.