Podcasts · Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle: The Thinkers Who Changed History — Fexingo History
Socrates's Unwritten Teachings and the Socratic Problem
· 11 min · S4 E186
Episode Socrates's Unwritten Teachings and the Socratic Problem
Socrates never wrote a word, so how do we know anything about him? In this episode, Lucas and Luna untangle the 'Socratic problem'—the puzzle of reconstructing the real Socrates from the conflicting portraits left by Plato, Xenophon, and Aristophanes. They explore Aristophanes' satirical take in *The Clouds*, Xenophon's practical philosopher, and Plato's literary masterpieces, asking which, if any, captures the historical figure. Along the way, they meet the shadowy Antisthenes, the Socratic circle of Megara, and the lost dialogues of Phaedo of Elis. They also revisit the oracle at Delphi and Socrates' divine sign, questioning how much we can truly know about a man who chose to teach through conversation and live without writing. For anyone curious about the foundations of Western philosophy, this episode offers a fresh angle on the eternal riddle of Socrates.
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Transcript
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