Socratic Perplexity and the Nature of Philosophy 1st edition by Gareth Matthews ISBN 0198238886 978-0198238881

Introduction: Socratic Perplexity and the Philosophy of Wonder

• Overview of Socratic Philosophy
• The Role of Perplexity in Philosophical Inquiry
• The Socratic Method and Its Influence on Western Philosophy
• Defining Philosophy: Perplexity, Wonder, and the Search for Knowledge

Socrates and the Origins of Philosophical Perplexity

• Socrates’ Life and Historical Context
• The Socratic Quest for Truth: Methodology and Purpose
• Socratic Ignorance: The Paradox of Knowledge and the Role of Perplexity
• The Importance of Dialogue and Questioning

The Socratic Method: Questioning Assumptions

• The Structure of Socratic Dialogue
• Refutation and the Role of Elenchus (Cross-Examination)
• The Relationship Between Inquiry and Knowledge
• Socratic Ignorance and the Dialectical Process

Socratic Perplexity: Understanding the Role of Uncertainty

• What Is Perplexity? Philosophical and Psychological Perspectives
• Perplexity as a Catalyst for Deepening Understanding
• The Ethical Dimensions of Perplexity
• The Relationship Between Perplexity and the Search for Meaning

Philosophical Perplexity and the Pursuit of Wisdom

• Socrates and the Ideal of Wisdom
• Wisdom vs. Knowledge: Philosophical Tensions
• The Unexamined Life: The Consequences of Avoiding Perplexity
• Socratic Wisdom in Relation to Human Flourishing

Socratic Perplexity in the Context of Ethics

• Socratic Views on Virtue, Justice, and the Good Life
• The Role of Perplexity in Ethical Inquiry
• Ethical Paradoxes and the Challenge of Moral Certainty
• Socratic Perplexity and Contemporary Ethical Dilemmas

The Legacy of Socratic Perplexity

• The Influence of Socratic Philosophy on Later Thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, and Beyond)
• The Role of Perplexity in the Development of Western Philosophy
• Perplexity in Contemporary Philosophical Thought
• The Continuing Relevance of Socratic Questioning Today

Philosophical Inquiry and the Modern World

• Philosophy and Everyday Life: The Role of Questioning in Modern Society
• The Crisis of Certainty: Philosophical Perplexity in the 21st Century
• Philosophical Perplexity in the Age of Technology and Information Overload
• The Relevance of the Socratic Method in Contemporary Education

Conclusion: Embracing Perplexity as a Path to Philosophy

• The Value of Perplexity in Human Understanding
• Philosophical Inquiry as an Ongoing Process
• The Socratic Legacy in Modern Thought and Practice
• Final Reflections on the Nature of Philosophy

Appendices

• A: Key Terms and Concepts in Socratic Philosophy
• B: Further Reading and Resources
• C: Index