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Education for Epiphany: The Case of Plato's Lysis
Author(s) -
Jonas Mark E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
educational theory
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.21
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1741-5446
pISSN - 0013-2004
DOI - 10.1111/edth.12094
Subject(s) - epiphany , socrates , reading (process) , epistemology , philosophy , nothing , socratic method , lysis , sociology , literature , theology , linguistics , chemistry , art , biochemistry
While a great deal has been written on Plato's Lysis in philosophy and philology journals over the last thirty years, nothing has been published on Lysis in the major Anglo‐American philosophy of education journals during that time. Nevertheless, this dialogue deserves attention from educators. In this essay, Mark Jonas argues that Lysis can serve as a model for educators who want to move their students beyond mere aporia , but also do not want to dictate answers to students. Although the dialogue ends in Socrates's affirmation of aporia , his affirmation is actually meant to persuade his interlocutors to reflect on an epiphany they had previously experienced. In what follows, Jonas offers a close reading of relevant passages of Lysis , demonstrating the way that Socrates leads his interlocutors to an epiphany without forcing his answers upon them.