Who is the modern day Socrates? Well, folks, let's take a look at who Socrates is, and what Socrates does. Socrates had the gusto to make people question everything they believe in, even if they believed their faith in said belief was unshakable. Socrates was also extremely intelligent, giving him the ability to ask the right questions at the right times. One of Socrates' most unique traits was that in his "dialogues", he used a strategy that some refer to as "mental judo". When using said "mental judo", Socrates would "dodge with the punches", so to speak; taking whatever someone threw at him and using it to his advantage. Apart from tactics, Socrates was also pretty popular. He drew crowds, accumulated followers, and gained attention from even the Greek government.
So, I was looking for someone shrewd, socially aware and popular, which isn't really that hard. That could be one of hundreds, thousands, even. It has to be more difficult than that. And then it dawned on me. I was looking at it all wrong. Although referred to as "mental judo", it's secretly not judo at all...it's karate. Karate is much more aggressive, which although on a surface level, Socrates is not, he is one of the most successful debaters of all time. Debating is a very aggressive activity. Although his methods seemed passive and judo-esque, they are actually aggressive in nature because of the end result he had hoped to achieve(winning the argument).
Then another thing occured to me. Is "mental" really the correct wording for what was really going on? No. The answer is no. Socrates was a philosopher and a debater for such a long time that it became easy for him. A habit. Second nature, almost. When you stop thinking about doing something and just instinctively do it, it's more cognitive than anything. So, what Socrates' real method was should have been called "Cognitive Karate". So then I was looking for a dialogist as shrewd as Socrates. As socially aware as Socrates. As well known as Socrates. A Dialogist who Included Cognitive Karate. Or a D.i.c.k, for short.
Then it hit me like an obese filmaker in a baseball cap and wire frame glasses. I knew it all along. If there is one man in the modern age who is not only intelligent, socially aware and popular like Socrates, but is also a total D.i.c.k., it's Michael Moore. (click the link).
damn that's sexy.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I don't like about moore, in terms of placing him as Socrates, is that he's ultimately going for shock value and to get people's attention. His films are ultimately propaganda. I think that Socrates was more honest and didn't have an agenda. When he said "I am ignorant," he wasn't just baiting and trolling. He was actually wise enough to realize his own ignorance. Whereas michael moore has so much of his own agenda and i'm sure he likes making cash money too.
I dunno, maybe socrates wanted followers too, though. Maybe nobody has a soul. Or everybody does.
I clicked the link (I was expecting it to be the graduation video...son, I am disappoint). I will never get those few seconds of my life back, Anne.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think you made a really smart choice by implementing the D.I.C.K criteria in your search. Whenever I have to find a modern day Socrates, I make sure he's a D.I.C.K, through and through.