(Mis)understanding ἐπιμέλεια ἀρετῆς (care for virtue) in Plato’s Euthydemus

This paper provides a tentative reading of the Euthydemus that emphasises the role of misunderstanding in the dialogue. It explores some of the differences between philosophy and eristic portrayed in the Euthydemus, namely their contrasting perspectives on ἐπιμέλεια ἀρετῆς (care for virtue or excellence). These perspectives are revealed in their radically different approaches to the protreptic challenge issued by Socrates. The paper argues that in displaying their eristic skills, the brothers are actually showing how they would encourage others to pursue knowledge and care for virtue – but with a different conception of knowledge and virtue than the one held by Socrates. In misunderstanding each other’s conceptions of ἀρετή (virtue) and its ἐπιμέλεια (care), Socrates and the brothers enter into a dialogue of the deaf that emphasizes their radically different approaches to the care of the young.