The Working Group in Ancient Philosophy announces its fourth talk of the semester, presented by one of our very own!
Speaker: Allison Piñeros Glasscock (Yale)
Time and Date: Friday, Nov. 18th, 4-6pm
Location: LC 318
Title: “Expertise and Educating for Excellence: Socrates on soul care astechnē in the Laches”
Abstract: In the Laches (184d5-185e6), Socrates claims that the care of the soul (i.e. making people virtuous or excellent) is an expertise or technē; he also insists that good pedagogical advice can only be given by experts in the care of the soul. One might worry that Socrates is begging the question against his interlocutors on both these points: why should his interlocutors agree that the care of the soul is an expertise? And even if they can be brought to agree with him on this, why should they think that only experts can give good pedagogical advice? I’ll be defending the view that Socrates does not beg the question against his interlocutors: they should agree that, by their own lights, the care of the soul is an expertise; furthermore, given what (I will argue) Socrates takes good pedagogical advice to consist in, and given the importance of the question under consideration (how to make their sons good), the interlocutors should agree that they really do need the advice of an expert in soul care.
Light snacks, tea, and (perhaps?) coffee will be provided.