Reading the Socratic dialogues one has the feeling: what a frightful waste of time! What's the point of these arguments that prove nothing and clarify nothing? (p. 14e)
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Socratic dialogues feel like a waste of time because they argue without proving or clarifying anything.
- In plain terms
- Ancient arguments often confuse more than they solve.
- What can you take from it?
- Be wary of arguments that do not clarify or prove points.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What is the point of an argument that proves nothing?
Another view
The value may lie in the questioning process itself, not the answers.
More from Ludwig Wittgenstein
If someone is merely ahead of his time, it will catch up to him one day. (p. 8e)
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