Lead the Follower

Rockamellon:  Hermithood does not sound like a subject for a marketable book.

Socrato:  The world is filled with many different kind of readers, friend.

Rockamellon:  But, according to your agenda, only one kind of value - money.

Socrato:  It worries me that you think I am bending the discussion to a particular end.

Rockamellon:  And yet here we are: love, family and philosophy have all been reduced to numbers on a balance sheet.

Socrato:  That is where the logic has led us.

Rockamellon:  So you keep saying but it takes a man to apply logic, does it not?

Socrato:  As I have seen it so far in my life, yes.

Rockamellon:  And is not every man subject to his own emotions and biases?

Socrato:  Certainly every man I have encountered has prejudices, yes.  But if I may anticipate where you are leading us then may I point out that in a philosophical discussion one is supposed to put these preferences aside and try to get at the truth.

Rockamellon:  One is supposed to, yes.  But can it be done?

Socrato:  Have you ever seen me enter into a discussion and come out with an answer that is directly at odds with the opinion I possessed before the discussion.

Rockamellon:  You mean have I ever seen you lose a discussion?

Socrato:  No, that is not what I mean.  I mean to say that truth is the only goal in a philosophical dialog.

Rockamellon:  Please explain that statement, Socrato.

Socrato:  Gladly.  The philosopher is, literally, a lover of wisdom - not opinion, either his own or anyone else's.  Opinion, belief and winning are irrelevant.  The discussion is aimed at revealing the truth, no matter what the cost to anyone's ego.

Rockamellon:  I see.  Perhaps it is truly wise to have no opinion at all.

Socrato:  That, my friend Rockamellon, sounds like wisdom.