论密尔对苏格拉底的重估

On Mill’s Reappraisal of Socrates

启蒙运动之后,苏格拉底的哲学并未受到足够的重视。边沁把苏格拉底的学说视作胡说八道,詹姆斯·密尔则只试图从苏格拉底那里学习辩论的技术。英国著名哲学家约翰·密尔重估了苏格拉底的价值。密尔认识到,真正的苏格拉底式方法是辩证法而不是诡辩术。密尔认为,可以用苏格拉底的辩证法来来批判流俗的意见,也可以用苏格拉底的辩证法来批判直觉主义和先验哲学。密尔还发现苏格拉底的辩证法具备一些积极的价值。具体来讲,密尔认为这种辩证法可以训练思维,可以帮助我们认识事物的两面,还可以帮助我们确定何为真理。

After the enlightenment, Socrates’ philosophy did not receive enough attention. Bentham dismissed Socrates’ teachings as nonsense, and James Mill tried only to learn the techniques of argument from Socrates. The famous English philosopher John Mill revalued Socrates. Mill realized that the true Socratic method was dialectic rather than sophism. Mill argues that Socratic dialectics can be used to criticize vulgar opinions, and Socratic dialectics can be used to criticize intuitionism and transcendental philosophy. Mill also found some positive value in Socratic dialectics. Specifically, Mill argues that this dialectic can train the mind, it can help us see both sides of things, and it can help us determine what is the truth.