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The Parable of Hemlock

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“Do you suppose,” asked one of the onlookers, “that even hemlock will not be enough to kill so wise and good a man?” “No,” replied another bystander, a student of philosophy; “all men are mortal, and Socrates is a man; and if a mortal drinks hemlock, surely he dies.” “Well,” said the onlooker, “what if it happens that Socrates isn’t mortal?” “Nonsense,” replied the student, a little sharply; “all men are mortal by definition; it is part of what we mean by the word ‘man.’ All men are mortal, Socrates is a man, therefore Socrates is mortal. It is not merely a guess, but a logical certainty.” “I suppose that’s right…” said the onlooker. “Oh, look, Socrates already drank the hemlock while we were talking.” “Yes, he should be keeling over any minute now,” said the student. And they waited, and they waited, and they waited… “Socrates appears not to be mortal,” said the onlooker. “Then Socrates must not be a man,” replied the student. “All men are mortal, Socrates is not mortal, therefore Soc

The Parable of Hemlock Source Markdown · Talk Home About Search Contents The Parable of Hemlock ❦ All men are mortal. Socrates is a man. Therefore Socrates is mortal. —Standard Medieval syllogism Socrates raised the glass of hemlock to his lips… “Do you suppose,” asked one of the onlookers, “that even hemlock will not be enough to kill so wise and good a man?” “No,” replied another bystander, a student of philosophy; “all men are mortal, and Socrates is a man; and if a mortal drinks hemlock, surely he dies.” “Well,” said the onlooker, “what if it happens that Socrates isn’t mortal?” “Nonsense,

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