Classes start to feel monotonous by senior year. Each course I take seems to have a research paper where the professor explains to the whole class how to find sources on Libsearch, as if the upperclassmen haven’t figured it out already.

As I wondered what else may be over-explained, my brain immediately went to Socrates. After taking Humanities and Political Quest, both of which dive deep into Socrates’ philosophy, I started to question if that ancient Greek scholar is every humanities professor’s “Roman Empire.”

I began to ask: Does every class have to start with Socrates? 

If this is true, is there a universal shared lesson plan on “The Trial and Death of Socrates?” What does Socrates even represent? I asked philosophy professor Sara Shady.

“He is the father of Western philosophy,” Shady said. “But he’s just the father of Western philosophy — philosophy develops around the world at similar times. So I don’t like to overemphasize him.” 

Now, I wonder why I made this assumption that philosophy should be taught with Socrates as a starting point. Perhaps it’s because the liberal arts tradition primarily rests in Western Culture. Yet, I would love to break out of this established thought pattern that seeks to put Greek empires of thought before any other world philosophy.

The father of Western philosophy is understandably a good place to start. But it doesn’t make sense to start with Socrates in every class. Socrates has his place, and while Shady said she doesn’t think he’s overrated, she agrees that Socrates should not be overemphasized. After all, Socrates never even wrote his own thoughts. The only reason we know who he is is because of an overachieving teacher’s pet named Plato.