Socrates, Writing, and the Media Journal

Socrates: Core Ideas

• Born in Athens, 469 BCE; executed 399 BCE for “corrupting the youth.”
• Key maxim: “I know that I know nothing.” ➔ Intellectual humility opens space for continual learning.
• Favoured live, dialectical conversation (later called the “Socratic Method”): questioning, rebuttal, and refinement nurture the soul.

Writing vs. Speech (Plato’s “Phaedrus”)

• Socrates distrusted writing: fixed, cannot answer questions, merely reminds rather than teaches.
• Live dialogue seen as superior because it permits reciprocal reasoning.

Michel de Montaigne on Writing

• French Renaissance essayist (popularised the essay).
• Valued writing to examine the self; cautioned against writing for fame or imitation.
• Echoes Socrates’ “examined life” while defending written reflection as self-knowledge.

Media Journal: Hybrid Practice

• Combines Socratic dialogue (critical enquiry) with Montaignean self-writing.
• Goal: deepen philosophical thinking by analysing personally loved media (music, film, art).

Four Practical Steps

1. \textbf{Notebook} – use an existing one; avoid consumerist “perfect” aesthetics.
2. \textbf{Decorate} – personalise with available materials; embrace imperfection.
3. \textbf{Write} – choose media you enjoy; address probing questions (e.g., themes, assumptions, ethical claims, emotional impact, social context). Include works you dislike for balanced critique.
4. \textbf{Keep It Private} – do not share; freedom from external judgement boosts honesty, consistency, and growth (aligns with Montaigne’s warning about reputation-seeking).

Benefits Observed

• Clearer articulation, richer detail extraction, improved academic writing.
• Enhanced self-understanding and personal aesthetic coherence.

Feminist Postscript: Mary Wollstonecraft

• English philosopher; “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.”
• Argues women’s apparent “inferiority” stems from denied education, not innate ability.
• Illustrates importance of equal intellectual opportunity—relevant when fostering open philosophical communities.

Key Takeaways

• Admit ignorance to encourage learning.
• Use conversation for immediate critique; use writing for self-reflection.
• Private, pleasure-based media journaling is a low-pressure route to deeper philosophical analysis and personal insight.
• Resist perfectionism and external validation; value growth over display.