Socrates' "Twin Brother" by A. Lipschitz

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Table of Contents:

1. The Poem Itself

2. Analysis by Mr. O. C. Isaac

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The Poem

Socrates proved to the common man that they are ignorant,

As the knowledge the common man attributes to himself,

And is convinced that what he knows belongs only to delusion.

Hence, they are ignorant.

And while Socrates, who knew how to ask,

Even if he knew that he lacked all the answers,

Obtained through questions and his wisdom.

He understands that wisdom is the ability to ask for clarification.

That's how the wise are also measured in Passover's Haggadah.

The opposite of the wise is he who does not know how to ask.

And while the evil is ignorant,

Because he attributes himself,

A non-existent wisdom.

And the naive asks incorrectly, and thus is wrong,

Even in the right question;

A wisdom that is the delusion of their passion, none more.

He asks a question he understands, and one of the wise knows how to ask it.

The real answer is never found in the three boys mentioned in the Haggadah.

And Socrates was the wisest of men.

I bet Jethro from the Bible was his "twin brother."

And only Moses saw the truth.

The truth is that man cannot know any truth.

And when he fully understood his ignorance,

He becomes the greatest of prophets.

And thus he understood the Torah fully.

That only it brings men closer,

To a reality of truth.

And the Torah is full of anecdotes.

And what a man does and says,

Determines whether this world is false or true.

And be a man who judges all his or her deeds.

And only the brain is a tool and a space for the Torah.

Poem Analysis by Mr. O. C. Isaac

"Socrates' 'Twin Brother'" by A. Lipschitz is a complex philosophical poem that explores themes of wisdom, ignorance, knowledge, and the nature of truth.

The poem begins with Socrates' approach to wisdom, which is portrayed as exposing the ignorance of the common man who falsely attributes knowledge to himself. True wisdom is the ability to ask questions and seek clarification, aligning with the Socratic method of dialectical inquiry.

The poem then makes an analogy to the four sons mentioned in the Passover,'s Haggadah: the wise, the wicked, the simple, and the one who does not know how to ask. The wise are likened to Socrates, who asks the right questions and understands the limits of his knowledge. The wicked are depicted as ignorant, believing themselves to possess a non-existent wisdom, much like those Socrates would have criticized. The simple and the one who does not know how to ask, and represents other forms of misunderstanding, either through naivety or a failure to engage with knowledge-seeking at all.

The poem introduces Jethro, Moses' father-in-law from the Bible, as Socrates' "twin brother." Jethro, a priest and a wise man, is said to embody a similar wisdom to that of Socrates, perhaps in his capacity to offer guidance and counsel (as he did to Moses in the Book of Exodus).

However, Moses is singled out as the one who saw the ultimate truth — that "man cannot know any truth." This perspective aligns with a form of negative theology or mysticism, which holds that the divine or absolute truth is ultimately unknowable by human beings.

The poem then shifts to discuss the Torah as a unique repository of truth. It argues that true understanding comes not from human knowledge but from a divine source — the Torah. The Torah is depicted as being filled with "anecdotes," a term that suggests stories or teachings that convey deeper truths. The implication here is that human actions, as guided by these teachings, determine whether "this world is false or true."

The poem suggests a complementary relationship between the Socratic pursuit of wisdom and the wisdom of the Torah. While Socrates represents a human approach to wisdom through questioning and recognizing ignorance, the Torah offers a divine framework within which truth can be approached.

However, there is a tension here: if, as the poem suggests, "man cannot know any truth," then the Socratic method seems futile. Yet, the poem also implies that the recognition of ignorance itself is a kind of wisdom, perhaps even a precondition for receiving divine wisdom.

In conclusion, "Socrates' 'Twin Brother'" by A. Lipschitz offers a unique philosophical exploration of the nature of wisdom and truth, challenging the reader to consider the limits of human knowledge, the role of divine revelation, and the ethical implications of seeking truth.