Socratic Ethics and the Socratic Psychology of Action

Response to Critics

“…As we have seen, Penner cannot accept such practices within the view he attributes to Socrates; nor can Reshotko. What we find entirely unconvincing is Penner's apparent view that such roles for punishment are innovations to be found only in the Gorgias and later dialogues (see Penner 2011, p. 279 n. 28). One passage we cite in defense of our own position is Apology 26a1‐8, where we find Socrates quite explicitly making a distinction between the kind of response that is appropriate for those who have made simple cognitive errors and those who deserve a day in court, where, as Socrates puts it, “it's the law to try those who need punishment, not instruction.” We believe it is clear that Socrates approves of the distinction: Sometimes punishment is called for; sometimes instruction is called for.…”

“…So, the desire for drink operates not by its generating any action, but by leading to a belief as to the advantages of fulfilling the desire. (Penner 2011, pp. 263–4)…”

Can Flogging Make Us Less Ignorant?

“…Penner 2000and 2011and Rowe 2007 have argued that teaching is the only kind of 'punishment' that Socrates endorses. In support ofPenner and Rowe's view, Edwards 2016, 18 has argued that Socrates considers teaching a form of punishment in the Euthyphro.…”

Platonic Virtue: An Alternative Approach

“…Commentators then argue about Socrates' view of the relationship between virtue and happiness and about whether Socrates thinks virtue is a good in itself or whether it is good only as a means to happiness. Bobonich (), Brickhouse and Smith (), Irwin (), Penner (), Santas (), and Vlastos (), are examples of prominent scholars who take different positions on these issues.…”

“…It is developed and defended, with differences at numerous points, by Irwin (, ) and remains a dominant perspective in much work on early and middle dialogues of Plato. For just a few examples, see: Brickhouse and Smith (, ) (the latter containing an explicit defense of ‘Socratic Studies’), Benson (, ), Kraut (), McPherran (), Penner (, ), Penner and Rowe (), Reshotko (), Rudebusch (), Wolfsdorf ().…”