I argued in chapter 1 that philosophy is compatible with Christianity. But is the practice of philosophy compatible with a Christian lifestyle? To reply to this concern, let’s return to Socrates for a few moments. At some point around the middle of his life, he became convinced that many people think they know what they are talking about when they do not really have a clue. He came to believe that many people, including smug experts, famous figures, and powerful people, are in the grips of illusion. He also came to believe that many believe that they are doing the morally right thing when they are only fooling themselves—their actions cannot be rationally justified. As this realization sank in, Socrates found his life’s purpose: he would help people discover their own ignorance as the first step to attaining more realistic beliefs and values and a better life. But how to proceed?
He asked people questions. Not just any questions, though. Questions designed to cause them to look in the mirror and examine their assumptions and actions on the basis of sound reasoning and realistic criteria. Questions like these: Are my assumptions on this matter true? Are they based on good reasoning? Have I considered all the relevant evidence? Or am I mistaken? Are my actions those of a morally good person? Am I making the right choices in life? Or am I fooling myself? Am I only rationalizing bad behavior?
His unique style of back and forth conversation had such an impact on those he talked with and on all subsequent intellectual thought that it has been given its own name: the “Socratic method.”
I have known people who overcame self-destructive behaviors, addictions, and willful ignorance and changed their lives for the better through Socratic self-examination—helped along the way by true friends, good counselors, and in most cases (I believe) with God’s grace. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous can also help. I note in passing that members of AA seeking to improve their lives are encouraged to call upon God or a higher power for help as they reflect on their lives.
Socratic therapy is hard work. It requires honesty and realism. It can be psychologically painful. Outside help is always needed. There will be times of progress and times of retrogression. But Socrates believed that everyone has the power within themselves to overcome illusion and error and to aim for truth, real goodness, and God. To be personal for a moment, when I look back on my life, I see many failures, each at a time when my choice would have been much better had I been practicing sincere Socratic self-examination. When we look back and say things like “How could I have been so blind?” and “I was really deceiving myself,” we are looking back in a Socratic way.
An Objection and a Reply
Some people reject the Socratic method. “Why follow reason rather than emotion or desire?” they ask. “Reasoning can lead us astray and frequently does.” This objection is based on a misunderstanding. While it is true that reasoning can sometimes be distorted by irrational influences and lead us to falsehood and moral error, a true Socratic thinker follows only trained and educated reasoning. Socrates was well aware that reasoning can lead us astray if it is not first trained, educated, and aimed at truth, that is, at correspondence with reality.
Sound reasoning, he argued, has a leading role to play in the well balanced, integrated personality. Our souls have three parts: reason, emotion, and desire. To achieve a life of inner harmony and true integrity, sound reasoning must govern and control the emotions and desires. Life experience supports Socrates here. It is commonsense that when our raw or unexamined emotions overrule our best reasoning the result is often something we later realize was harmful. In such cases, we look back and wish we had followed the prompts of reason rather than unexamined emotion. Road rage and domestic violence are contemporary examples.
Similarly, when our unexamined bodily desires overcome our reason, the result is usually something we later realize, again using our best reasoning, was unhealthy. In such cases, we look back and wish we had followed reason rather than uncontrolled bodily desire. Overeating and drinking too much are examples.
Life problems usually magnify when either the emotions or the bodily desires rule the soul unchecked by reason and regular self-examination. Our souls function the way they were meant by God to function when sound reasoning governs the emotions and desires so as to point our lives toward truth, God, and real goodness. So argued Socrates.
(excerpted from interlude 1)
