Historical Introduction to Philosophy/Alcibiades/Questions

The argument Socrates uses hinges on the idea that the user is always different from that which he uses. Does that seem sensible to you? Considering the time of Socrates, there were no computers and certainly no knowledge of the complex workings of biochemistry. The self-regulation of a cell through chemical means and the workings of a computer may suggest that it is possible to be both the tool and the ruler of the tool. Does this sort of knowledge have an effect on the conclusions of this dialogue now?

With your absolute command of this issue having read this dialogue, do you think you could convince a friend his body really isn’t his and that the real him is only ruling his body? Go ahead and give it a try. |