Phaedrus' Exam
A Pedagogical Interpretation of Opposites in Plato's Theuth and Thamus Anecdote
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/CC.25.2022.25.02Keywords:
Phaedrus, chariot metaphor, Theuth and Thamus, PlatoAbstract
Explored through a pedagogical lens, Plato’s Theuth and Thamus anecdote reveals an educational intervention designed to examine and apply the teachings of Socrates through a ‘real-world’ philosophical conundrum: how to wisely contend with the introduction of new technology. This work suggests that Theuth and Thamus can be viewed as the black and white horses of Plato’s chariot metaphor, and that this chariot driving lesson helps student-philosophers understand the role of wisdom in governing both their personal lives and the state. Serving as an examination, the anecdote draws together the ideas student philosophers have explored throughout the earlier portions of the dialogue.
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