The article goes back to Foucault’s last course at the College de France (Le courage de la verite). Two issues are its focus: (1) Socratic conception of philosophy as a way of life; (2) Cynic conception of the true life. Foucault used Cynics’ thought as an example of an alternative approach to the history of subjectivity, which in turn could help us in our searching for modern ways of constituting the ethical subject.
The main purpose of this paper is to reconstruct Antisthenes’ position on education (paideia) and especially to define its character by answering the questions concerning the nature of the relationship that arose on the border of philosophy (Plato) and sophistry (Gorgias). In the first part of our study we offer an explanation of how and whether it is even possible – despite the fact that Antisthenes’ works on education have not been preserved – to identify his philosophy of education without comparing it with competing educational models. Subsequently, we analyse the Socratic and cynic elements (topoi) embodied in the character of Odysseus in Antisthenes’ speech Odysseus or On Odysseus.
The article focuses on Antisthenes' concept of paideia, which, undoubtedly, must have been inspired by Socratic tradition. The decisive fragment - 'the beginning of education is the research in names' - points to the connection between logic and ethics as it is witnessed in Xenophon's and Plato's dialogues. However, there are several differences as well. The author compares Antisthenes' paideia with the rhetorical ideal of Isocrates. Then he displays several variations of the Socratic model inside the Socratic circle. Antisthenes shows no interest in the metaphysical development of his Teacher's thought and he offers a positive ethical ideal to be followed. This is the point where Cynics and Stoics carried on the Socratic tradition, the former putting stress on ethics and the letter completing it with logical studies.
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