Self-Ridicule

Socrates seeks wisdom through self-ridicule, which is a product of self-questioning. The questions he asks others are questions that he asks of himself, questions that we should be asking of ourselves. They are mischievous questions in that they bring to light comfortable presuppositions that will not stand up to investigation; taking them seriously helps us reach an understanding of our ignorance, an understanding that is the basis of human wisdom. What Socrates calls his daimonion, an uncanny ability to avoid wrongdoing, is a product of his self-questioning. Because he has become clear about his ethical commitments, he is able to honor them consistently. Uncanny this may be, but it is not beyond human reach.