And for that, we need to take an active role in exploring and charting your own path, rather than following the per-determined paths set by others. Although this may pose challenges, the rewards are profoundly worthwhile. It was only when I began to question and consciously choose my own direction, actively shaping myself, that I was able to overcome obstacles and savoir genuine joy and embrace life fully. I have come to appreciate even the seemingly aimless paths I have traveled, for they ultimately guided me to where I now stand.
Socrates’ philosophy and his unique approach to engaging with the world. One prominent aspect that stands out is the distinction between Socrates’ original ideas and those implicitly and explicitly attributed to him by Plato, who serves as the primary source of information about him. Scholars actively debate whether the portrayal of Socrates in dialogues such as Lysis, Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito differs from that in a later dialogue, Phaedo, suggesting a potential shift from Socrates’ ideas to those of Plato.
In the early Socratic dialogues, such as Lysis and Euthyphro, Socrates is primarily concerned with the exploration and construction of truth and subjectivity. He achieves this through a dialectical process of questioning and answering with his interlocutors, facilitating their deeper understanding of themselves and the world. This process also allows Socrates to explore various possibilities of truth and subjectivity.
However, a shift in Socrates’ focus can be observed in the later dialogues, exemplified by Phaedo, where he turns towards the pursuit of objective, immutable, and eternal truth. In Phaedo, Socrates presents arguments in favour of the immortality of the soul and its purification through philosophy, resulting in a blissful and blessed existence during and after corporeal life. This stands in contrast to his previous assertions in Apology and Crito, wherein he disavowed possessing knowledge concerning such matters.
In contrast to Phaedo, the earlier dialogues showcase Socrates’s efforts to foster deeper subjectivity in his interlocutors by facilitating their critical examination of cherished beliefs, ideas, biases, and received notions. Through systematic reasoning and exposing the limitations inherent in these constructs, Socrates empowered individuals to shape their own subjectivity and navigate their personal journey of self-actualization.
His focus rested on the individual’s capacity to dynamically self-create and cultivate their subjectivity, rather than fixating on the pursuit of a singular, objective, and eternal truth—a flawed framework that restricts exploration and inquiry by presupposing the existence of a single truth attainable exclusively through reason and contemplation.
Contrary to the exploration of truth and subjectivity in the earlier Socratic dialogues, Foucault argues that the later models, such as those found in the Phaedo, impose limitations and exclusivity on accessing truth. This later Platonic model has shaped our understanding of ourselves and the world by promoting assumptions such as the existence of an inherent and undiscovered passion within each individual, predetermined tasks or roles, and a fixed core self that must be uncovered or expressed. Consequently, it directs us towards revealing pre-existing truths rather than actively engaging in self-creation, which can be detrimental as it confines us to predefined notions.
To overcome the limitations imposed by dominant social structures and shape their own identities and lives, individuals must engage in a reinterpretation of the Socratic dialogues, placing emphasis on care as exploration rather than explanation. This transformative approach creates a valuable framework for developing a new form of subjectivity, one that is deep and authentic, liberated from external determinations.
By embracing the Socratic approach of actively exploring and creating diverse possibilities for truth, individuals liberate themselves from the constraints imposed by the state and predefined notions of identity. This journey opens up a path to personal growth and self-actualization, empowering individuals to discover their unique truths and ways of being. In doing so, they cultivate a profound and genuine form of subjectivity, free from external determinations.
Technologies of the self, both ancient and modern, as explored and expanded upon by Foucault and Hadot, offer powerful tools for influencing and transforming subjectivity. These techniques are not mere mechanisms for conforming to social norms; rather, they are instruments that can challenge and resist those norms while constructing subjectivity. Some of these technologies of the self are Meditation, Journaling, Reading, Memorizing and dialogue and interactions with others who are similarly inclined.
I have to stop here for now, but will continue with it a bit later. One of the impetuses for starting on my endeavor is the realization of the difficulty of affecting transformations for each person, however, motivated that person is. This article and the others are mostly place holders, they would be edited and updated with some of the things that are in my mind, meanwhile, thank you for your patience.
