1. The problem of definitions
There is an issue that arises in almost every serious conversation – the divergent meanings of terms. This is an especially pernicious issue in philosophical discourse – so many schools of thought, so many different frameworks, axioms, metaphysics and epistemologies. Far too many conversations are not truly a dialogue, but two monologues sliding past each other, only occasionally finding common ground. Do not confuse this statement with an appeal to consensus – this lies in stark opposition with my views of the value of speech.
2. How Socrates attempted to solve it
Perhaps a sufficient starting position would be Socrates’ means of philosophical conversation – in particular, his method of asking probing and incisive questions upon someone with a strong claim (i.e. a judge proclaiming to know the nature of justice or a poet knowing the nature of beauty), which has been thoroughly demonstrated in Plato’s many Dialogues. In order to avoid confusion, Socrates d ...