Forgive Aristotle + Seek Socrates

by Jon Sasmor RCPC (Mineral Guide, MinBalance LLC)
Updated November 20, 2024

Aristotle proposed that we know things by distinguishing certain principles and causes (Aristotle, ca. 350 B.C.E./1924, Metaphysics, Book I, Part 1).

Socrates suggested he was a bit wiser than others, for unlike others he didn't pretend that he knew, when he didn't know (Plato, ca. 395 B.C.E./1892, Apology, 20d-23b).

Might we seek to become more like Socrates?

Western science, at any given moment, often appears to know that its current state of Aristotelian distinctions and theories is an absolute truth. What would Socrates say?

Might the world be making some wrong decisions, because of pretending we already know when we don't really know?

It is hard to judge Socrates and Aristotle without crossing the line into Aristotelian distinctions. Socrates might easily poke holes in our rationale with a series of probing questions (Plato, ca. 395 B.C.E./1892, Euthyphro).

This article was almost called "Blame Aristotle, Hail Socrates". But blaming isn't usually useful; forgiveness works better for our own sake. And, I don't think Socrates would like to be hailed, not even for not knowing. So, I chose instead "Forgive Aristotle + Seek Socrates".

At any given moment, there is more than what we know. Paradigms shift, change, evolve, reverse, and replace each other. (Kuhn, 1962/2012.) It's quite dangerous to pretend we know what we don't really know. There's more than our current time-knowledge-science.

This website seeks, like Socrates, to question our assumptions, even when we may think we already know. If you catch me pretending to know more than I do, please ask questions and correct my errors.