Why Socrates Was Not a Troll: Examining the Philosophers Pursuit of Truth

Abstract

Why Socrates Was Not a Troll In this paper, I will argue that Socrates was not a troll since his methodology promoted dialogue, his goal was to pursue the truth, and he defended the ethical foundations of his arguments. Socrates provoked people with authority in Athens and his conversations led them to reveal the flaws in their claims. Since a troll is someone who makes offensive claims to deliberately offend their audience, Socrates’s actions may appear to be one. However, Socrates’s methodology led people to question their claims and gain wisdom in the process. His intentions are the opposite of a troll since his goal was to seek the truth through honest dialogue with his audience while trolls create chaos and disruption (Thi 31). He defends the ethical foundations of his arguments while acknowledging potential provocations that he dreaded. While Socrates’s actions may have some similarities to trolling, he was not a troll but pursued the truth and wisdom by encouraging people to question their previous claims. The approach Socrates used to engage people who held alternative ideas differs from the methods a troll uses to provoke their audience. Socrates engaged in conversations that promoted debate and dialogue about the soul and Athens to enable his audience to see mistakes in their arguments. His methodology encouraged debate on mainstream views that demonstrated his intent to promote learning through conversation. While trolls engage in disruption and avoid dialogue, Socrates promoted interactions that led to deep conversations on essential beliefs about life and the soul. In the “Apology,” Socrates defends his actions by demonstrating the effectiveness of his methodology in revealing the truth to those who assumed to have knowledge (Plato 8). The philosopher’s method promoted an honest pursuit for the truth through dialogue while a troll seeks to disrupt dialogue through deception and confusion. Socrates intentions demonstrate that he was not a troll since he sought wisdom for the benefit of his audience while trolls engage in provocation for amusement. The philosopher responds to accusations of corrupting the youth by admitting that his actions provoked enmity which he lamented. While the strategy Socrates used to pursue the truth could cause similar reactions to those of a troll, the intentions are different. Socrates viewed his audience as being prevented from gaining wisdom by the mere assumption that they were knowledgeable. He viewed himself as a gadfly that stings and stirs the city of Athens into seeking separating the truth from conventional assumptions (Gamlin 147). Socrates questioned his audience to guide them into realizing the flaws in their assumptions and seeking true wisdom. On the other hand, trolls use deception to mislead their audience for their own amusement with no regard for the truth. Socrates was not a troll...