Socratic charis: philosophy without the agon

This book explores the possibility that Plato’sphilosophiais influenced by non-agonalpractices and values that historically and philosophically antedate theagonalpractices of the Athenianekklesia. The author surveys literature concerning the predominance ofagonalin ancient Greek culture, the values associated with oral poetic performance as areligiouspractice, and the ubiquitous character of the gift practice known asxeniain the ancient world. The author compares the structure of theagonto the structure of other ancient practices, and reasons that while agonistic practices are oppositional and binary, poetic and social practices are narrative and plural and exemplify, alternative to theagonal, the value ofcharis—grace. Reading Socratic speech and Socratic inquiry in terms ofcharisilluminates the narrative structure of Plato’s portrayal ofSocratesand precludes one-dimensional analyses of Plato’s writings as philosophically agonistic anddemonstrative. Rather the value of Socraticcharisillustrates the value of genuine dialogue, and the author suggests how revaluing Socratic dialogue in light ofchariscan be relevant to current thinking about philosophy, politics, and theagon.