"Charmides"

Paper Summary:

In the dialogue "Charmides", Socrates explores the definition of temperance. The paper explains that, to the Greeks, temperance represented both an inner order of the soul and a kind of self-aware restraint; the two are linked together in a whole person who is temperate in body, soul, and action. At the outset, Socrates says that before he can presume to cure Charmides of his headache, he must establish the condition of his soul.

From the Paper:

"Although the discussion ends in perplexity and no satisfactory definition of temperance is arrived at, it seems that temperance requires knowledge of good and evil, but that without a context, one cannot know whether ones actions will result in good or evil. (With the historical perspective of Critias and Charmides subsequent intemperance, it seems possible that this might be one of the points that Plato had in mind for this dialogue: Even someone as discerning as Socrates cannot predict the future or determine character based on appearance alone.)"

More papers on "Charmides":

• Analytical Essay # 63920 : "Plato's Socrates"

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