The History Paper
Once you got the conversation started, it was very clear this was a good idea. The whole premise of the Socratic method is open dialogue and the premise of Socratic questioning is to ask questions to come to conclusions. You began by asking questions related to trust, truth, and how he could ever be certain in either of those notions. He asked questions in return and generally, the conversation was easy and natural. Chase throughout most of it had little to say, but when he did, it was something surprisingly profound. You could tell by the way Plato’s eyes lit up that he was enjoying the conversation; both of you liked the way the other challenged you. Neither of you “won” the argument – there wasn’t anything to win – and neither of you seemed to come to any sort of conclusion either.
The conversation came to a close after around an hour of speak when Plato said, “I like you; you have a mind well-worth picking. I will help you.”
“Are you serious?” You asked excitedly, sitting forward.
“Yes,” he thought for a moment, “You have more than convinced me that giving you the seeds would not be a mistake. If they aren't with me, I think it would be worth it to give it to you in hopes you might bring some of this wisdom back to humanity.”
“I—” A smile broke across your face. “Thank you.”
“Excuse me while I go grab them.” He stood and made his way out of the room.
“How did you know that would work?” Chase asked, his tone excited.
You shrugged. “When he was Socrates’ student that’s the way he was taught. I figured he would associate it with intelligence. Plus, I had points to make and this seemed the most reasonable way to do so.” Finally able to relax, you sunk back into the couch. “And to be honest, I thought he would appreciate a coherent conversation.”
Plato was smiling when he came back, the pomegranate seeds in a small velvet bag with a draw string. He looped, then finally tied, the string around the bag. “It’s odd giving this to somewhere. I’ve had them for quite some time.”
“It is greatly appreciated,” you reassured him ad he handed you the bag.
“Be careful with them. And absolutely do not lose it.”
You nodded. “Of course.”
And with that, you were rushed out of his house.
The conversation came to a close after around an hour of speak when Plato said, “I like you; you have a mind well-worth picking. I will help you.”
“Are you serious?” You asked excitedly, sitting forward.
“Yes,” he thought for a moment, “You have more than convinced me that giving you the seeds would not be a mistake. If they aren't with me, I think it would be worth it to give it to you in hopes you might bring some of this wisdom back to humanity.”
“I—” A smile broke across your face. “Thank you.”
“Excuse me while I go grab them.” He stood and made his way out of the room.
“How did you know that would work?” Chase asked, his tone excited.
You shrugged. “When he was Socrates’ student that’s the way he was taught. I figured he would associate it with intelligence. Plus, I had points to make and this seemed the most reasonable way to do so.” Finally able to relax, you sunk back into the couch. “And to be honest, I thought he would appreciate a coherent conversation.”
Plato was smiling when he came back, the pomegranate seeds in a small velvet bag with a draw string. He looped, then finally tied, the string around the bag. “It’s odd giving this to somewhere. I’ve had them for quite some time.”
“It is greatly appreciated,” you reassured him ad he handed you the bag.
“Be careful with them. And absolutely do not lose it.”
You nodded. “Of course.”
And with that, you were rushed out of his house.