Is Temperance a Form of Calm? Reading Sophrosýne in the Opening of the Charmides
Keywords:
Plato, Dialectic, Refutation, Charmides, DefinitionAbstract
The article offers a critical reading of the initial passages of Plato’s Charmides (with particular attention to 153a – 160e), focusing on the role of sophrosýne in the development of Socratic dialectic. Through an analysis of the introductory scene and the exchanges between Socrates, Critias, and Charmides, the philosophical relevance of the young interlocutor’s disposition for dialogue is highlighted. In particular, the first definition of sophrosýne as “a certain calmness” and the refutation carried out by Socrates are examined. It is argued that the refutation, far from being a merely negative exercise, has philosophical value and serves a propaedeutic function. The study invites a reconsideration of the status of aporetic dialogues, emphasizing their productivity in philosophical terms. Finally, a rational reconstruction of Socrates’ argument is proposed, and some implications for the broader understanding of Platonic thought are suggested.
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