Donald Robertson

But basically, what he tends to do is to ask people to define a concept, and it's usually a virtue. So he'll say, define piety, define courage, define justice. and typically it's something that's very relevant to them. So he's not just like we would in academic philosophy now, analysing concepts for the sake of it.

But basically, what he tends to do is to ask people to define a concept, and it's usually a virtue. So he'll say, define piety, define courage, define justice. and typically it's something that's very relevant to them. So he's not just like we would in academic philosophy now, analysing concepts for the sake of it.

But basically, what he tends to do is to ask people to define a concept, and it's usually a virtue. So he'll say, define piety, define courage, define justice. and typically it's something that's very relevant to them. So he's not just like we would in academic philosophy now, analysing concepts for the sake of it.

He talks to military commanders about the nature of courage, for example, because it's something that they're already taking for granted, in a sense, in the conversations that they're having. So you could also say he's digging deeper beneath the conversation and questioning the underlying premise or assumption there. So you guys are talking a lot about courage, but what is courage?

He talks to military commanders about the nature of courage, for example, because it's something that they're already taking for granted, in a sense, in the conversations that they're having. So you could also say he's digging deeper beneath the conversation and questioning the underlying premise or assumption there. So you guys are talking a lot about courage, but what is courage?

He talks to military commanders about the nature of courage, for example, because it's something that they're already taking for granted, in a sense, in the conversations that they're having. So you could also say he's digging deeper beneath the conversation and questioning the underlying premise or assumption there. So you guys are talking a lot about courage, but what is courage?

How do you actually define it? The whole conversation is based on that. And then he'll normally think of exceptions to the rule that they've given. The most famous example is when he's talking to Lachies and Nicias to Athenian generals. They define courage as standing your ground and remaining in formation in the face of the enemy.

How do you actually define it? The whole conversation is based on that. And then he'll normally think of exceptions to the rule that they've given. The most famous example is when he's talking to Lachies and Nicias to Athenian generals. They define courage as standing your ground and remaining in formation in the face of the enemy.

How do you actually define it? The whole conversation is based on that. And then he'll normally think of exceptions to the rule that they've given. The most famous example is when he's talking to Lachies and Nicias to Athenian generals. They define courage as standing your ground and remaining in formation in the face of the enemy.

And that's because the Athenians depended to a large extent on their hoplites, their heavy infantry, which Socrates was one, and they had to fight in the phalanx formation. And so each soldier's shield would protect him, but also the guy standing to his left.

And that's because the Athenians depended to a large extent on their hoplites, their heavy infantry, which Socrates was one, and they had to fight in the phalanx formation. And so each soldier's shield would protect him, but also the guy standing to his left.

And that's because the Athenians depended to a large extent on their hoplites, their heavy infantry, which Socrates was one, and they had to fight in the phalanx formation. And so each soldier's shield would protect him, but also the guy standing to his left.

And if you broke formation, not only would you place yourself at risk, but you place the soldiers that are fighting alongside you in greater danger as well by doing that. So they had to really drum it into these guys that they had to remain very rigidly in formation for this phalanx strategy to work. And Socrates says, okay, that's a good definition of courage, but it's too narrow, right?

And if you broke formation, not only would you place yourself at risk, but you place the soldiers that are fighting alongside you in greater danger as well by doing that. So they had to really drum it into these guys that they had to remain very rigidly in formation for this phalanx strategy to work. And Socrates says, okay, that's a good definition of courage, but it's too narrow, right?

And if you broke formation, not only would you place yourself at risk, but you place the soldiers that are fighting alongside you in greater danger as well by doing that. So they had to really drum it into these guys that they had to remain very rigidly in formation for this phalanx strategy to work. And Socrates says, okay, that's a good definition of courage, but it's too narrow, right?

Because what about during a tactical retreat? Like you break from the phalanx formation, but you could still exhibit courage. You're no longer standing your ground in the same way though. What if you fight in the cavalry and then you have to charge into the middle of the enemy rather than standing your ground? But the cavalry exhibit courage. You'd have to define it differently, though.

Because what about during a tactical retreat? Like you break from the phalanx formation, but you could still exhibit courage. You're no longer standing your ground in the same way though. What if you fight in the cavalry and then you have to charge into the middle of the enemy rather than standing your ground? But the cavalry exhibit courage. You'd have to define it differently, though.

Because what about during a tactical retreat? Like you break from the phalanx formation, but you could still exhibit courage. You're no longer standing your ground in the same way though. What if you fight in the cavalry and then you have to charge into the middle of the enemy rather than standing your ground? But the cavalry exhibit courage. You'd have to define it differently, though.

He says, what about the Spartans? They fight in phalanx formation, but they also sometimes charge into the enemy like cavalry do. But they're renowned for their courage. So you wouldn't say that they lack courage. You'd have to tweak your definition a little bit. So he starts this conversation going, usually by creative thinking.

He says, what about the Spartans? They fight in phalanx formation, but they also sometimes charge into the enemy like cavalry do. But they're renowned for their courage. So you wouldn't say that they lack courage. You'd have to tweak your definition a little bit. So he starts this conversation going, usually by creative thinking.