Uncomfortable Socrates in Japan

I have never imagined so many Socrates are still living in Japan.

Following my recent article, Socrates after Socrates have appeared.

「プーチン=極悪非道、ゼレンスキー=正義の味方」そんな安直な思考が見落とす重要事実（プレジデントオンライン） - Yahoo!ニュース

ロシアがウクライナに侵攻して1カ月余り。欧米や日本の報道スタンスは「ロシア=悪、プーチン=極悪非道」だ。精神科医の和田秀樹さんは「プーチンは悪者で、ウクライナ=可哀想な犠牲者、ゼレンスキー=正義の味

This article cast a doubt on the public opinion that Russia should be blamed for the reported situation in Ukraine.

Moreover, it says Putin may not be a villain nor Zelenskyy be a hero at all, and that we should have ‘plural’ point of view.

Yeah, yes mom, anything can be ‘fake’…I understand what you say. Yes, pluralism is most important in this complicated world, yes, I know that…that’s O.K…

He says he feels ‘uncomfortable’ with prevailing public condemnation against Russia. Yeah, I also feel very uncomfortable with those ‘intelligent’ rhetoric, too.

And this clever-looking Japanese critic insists that in any war conflict each side has its own reason so we should not decide which one is right or wrong until we can really know the truth.

Many ‘intelligent’ people in Japan comment like this critic, saying that we must be discreet in criticizing others because our knowledge is limited, or some even argue that Russia has its own reason for this attack, or that there is a very complicated history between Russia and Ukraine so we should understand the logic of Russia as well as Ukraine…

Yeah, maybe so. Dad, you are right. You are always right. You are intelligent and well-informed. And I know I can never know everything.

But should we be Socrates until we know everything ?

I remember those ‘Socrates’ have proudly stated their opinions about some presidential election or less urgent (compared with what have happened in Ukraine !) ‘human rights’ issues for so many years.

Have they known everything about those issues before they talk ? Maybe so. They are very ‘intelligent’ and clever.

But to me, they seem to be just trying to show off how different opinion they can put by playing with their ‘original’ Socrates theory.

‘Look at me ! I am intelligent and original ! I have different opinion from ordinary people ! I am the Socrates! Just follow me !!’