Carrie asked:

Do you think Socrates feels that philosophy adds meaning to life for everyone? Or does it only apply
to certain people? How?

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In Plato's Apology, Socrates defends himself against his accusers claiming that he is on a divinely
inspired mission. "I go around seeking out anyone, citizen or stranger, whom I think wise. Then if I do
not think he is, I come to the assistance of the god and show him that he is not wise" (Ap.23b) In the
dialogues, we find Socrates speaking with a variety of interlocutors, ranging from famous Sophists
(Gorgias, Protagoras), Philosophers (Parmenides) friends both young and old (Meno, Crito) and other
Athenian figures (Euthyphro, Laches). He was regularly found in the Lyceum and agora, public places
where he came into contact with citizens and strangers, even going to at least one Symposium
(drinking party) held by Agathon in the company of the playwrights of his day, along with Alcibiades.
Plato's Socrates seems to interact with a great deal of people and is willing to engage them in
philosophical conversations. When they are not well versed in philosophy, he helps them as best he
can grasp the questions he asks. He does appear to think that the unexamined life is not worth living
with respect to everyone. Yet this may (controversially) mean that every person can benefit by
coming to understand their epistemic limitations — to know that they truly do not know.

Whether everyone Socrates conversed with were able to benefit from philosophy in the way he hoped
is unclear. Euthyphro, for instance, runs away at the end of his dialogue with Socrates. And Socrates
admits in the Apologythat his practice of philosophical questioning has made him many enemies
among the politicians, poets, and craftsmen. It may be an open question as to who can benefit from
philosophy. In Plato's Republic, the picture of education painted there is quite different, and very few
people would have the capacity to rise to the heights of philosophical dialectic after ten long years of
practicing mathematics. Only a few would end up as "Philosopher Kings." Many view these ideas as
reflecting Plato's own view, which contrasts with his portrayal of Socrates. It seems clear that
Socrates had a following, and by philosophizing in public, became the target of the public's wrath.
Plato founded the Academy, and taught philosophy under more selective conditions, perhaps
benefiting far fewer citizens than his teacher had.

Maureen Eckert