12.1 The Revelation

Chaerephon came bearing the most exciting news in the world, a total vindication of Socrates and his philosophical method. Socrates was not delighted, overjoyed, triumphant: he was dumbstruck. What was Chaerephon thinking? More important, what was the god doing in making such an outrageous statement? Socrates was deeply troubled by the revelation. Apollo said no one was wiser. Surely that wasn’t true! But the god said it, through his Pythian oracle. The proclamation was a public one from a divine source. Socrates could not ignore it, could not wish it away, could not undo the answer, however much he might wish. Socrates did eagerly pursue knowledge, and he was good at thinking about important things — justice, temperance, wisdom — but he was far from thinking himself learned, much less wise. Yet the god said no one was wiser. Instead of answering questions about Socrates’ pursuits, the oracle raised deeper and more urgent ones. <a href="https://medium.com/the-first-philosophers/12-1-the-revelation-d3b0665e4f2f">Visit Now</a>