Glaucon
D | Thursday, April 21, 2005

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This post is my way of saying Thank You to one of my best friends. She has known me ever since I scared the crap out of her Sophomore year by trying to date her and ever since then has been one of my closest confidants and best sources of advice and guidance. And as one of my close friends, she has a nickname which I have provided her - Glaucon. I, of course, am Socrates. For those of you not philosophy majors, Glaucon is an ancient Greek character from Plato's Republic. Although my friend has always suggested that her name was given to her because "Glaucon was Socrates's dumb assistant," she would be pleased to know that a little research seems to suggest otherwise. A noted scholar wrote the following in his introduction to The Republic:

The nature of the process (the method of teaching, ed) is truly characterized by Glaucon, when he describes himself as a companion who is not good for much in an investigation, but can see what he is shown, and may, perhaps, give the answer to a question more fluently than another . . .

Glaucon is the impetuous youth who can "just never have enough of fechting"; the man of pleasure who is acquainted with the mysteries of love; the "juvenis quigaudet canibus," and who improves the breed of animals; the lover of art and music who has all the experiences of youthful life. He is full of quickness and penetration, piercing easily below the clumsy platitudes of Thrasymachus to the real difficulty; he turns out to the light the seamy side of human life, and yet does not lose faith in the just and true. It is Glaucon who seizes what may be termed the ludicrous relation of the philosopher to the world, to whom a state of simplicity is "a city of pigs," who is always prepared with a jest when the argument offers him an opportunity, and who is ever ready to second the humor of Socrates and to appreciate the ridiculous, whether in the connoisseurs of music, or in the lovers of theatricals, or in the fantastic behavior of the citizens of democracy.

My most reasonable translation for "juvenis quigaudet canibus" is "young man who loves joy and dogs" - so that's probably not right. Regardless, take a look at this excerpt from the actual text of The Republic:

With these words I was thinking that I had made an end of the discussion; but the end, in truth, proved to be only a beginning. For Glaucon, who is always the most pugnacious of men, was dissatisfied at Thrasymachus' retirement; he wanted to have the battle out. So he said to me: Socrates, do you wish really to persuade us, or only to seem to have persuaded us, that to be just is always better than to be unjust?
I should wish really to persuade you, I replied, if I could.
Then you certainly have not succeeded.

My friend, just like the true Glaucon from the text, never lets me settle for anything less than my best. She is a constant reminder that we should all try just a little harder to be giving something back. And on top of all else, she appreciates all those things about me that make me the person I am.
Thanks Kate, I love you. From your grateful friend, Socrates.

D | 4/21/2005 11:58:00 PM |   Post your comment

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Comments:

Thank you for this. I'm very flattered, and exceptionally touched. I love you, babe. I'm going to smile all day. Can't wait to give you a really big hug - Glaucon
Kate | April 22, 2005 8:08 AM | permalink
 

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