November 30, 2005


  • The Athenian democracy put Socrates on trial.   Socrates gave a speech in his defense.  It can be found as Plato's 'Apology.'   In it, Socrates related that he once received a message from an Oracle that told him  "no one is wiser than you."   In ironic modesty, Socrates then related a series of conversations he had with notable Athenians, whom he suspected, must surely be wiser than he was.   But, in each case, Socrates came to conclude that he must have a special wisdom that each of them lacked - an open awareness of his own ignorance.  I agree with Socrates, that perhaps modesty is a form of wisdom.


    "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:"  Proverbs 9:10      "(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)" Numbers 12:3