10/16/2013

The Socrates syndrome

Socrates a great philosopher of ancient Athens who died around 399BC was blamed for all the ills and failures of the City State in Athens and was sentenced to death by the state.
Socrates -  ( ancient Greek philosopher )            Versus            Athenian City State

Ngiam Tong Dow  ( a pragmatic Head of Civil Service )     Versus           Singapore City State


Result
_____


Socrates:   Death  by drinking hemlock , a poisonous drink

Ngiam Tong Dow :       Recant

Verdict in History
______________

Socrates :         An honourable man vindicated by History

Athenian City State went into decline after Socrates death

Ngiam Tong Dow : People in tune with his original version

Singapore is in the doldrums, unsure of its  future

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Is it fair to say:
One is a philosopher.
The other is a half hearted, repenting former running dog?

Lao Ren Yuan Resident said...

An angry dog biting the hands that fed it rather.

But now, a quiet puppy.

Anonymous said...

Unlike Socrates, Ngiam did not die what, tio bo?

So like that how to compare?

Some more ancient Athens got Sinkies or not? Or rather 60% Sinkies or not?

Anonymous said...

"Unlike Socrates, Ngiam did not die what, tio bo?"

die or not die, the consequence is still the same, doesn't it ?

Still remember old fart says that his actions are justified because he did not kill. Really, does that means that as long as one does not kill, they can continue to do evil thing against human ? Or it only applies to old fart ?

oldhorse42 said...

Ngiam was oftem given a lychee drink - a glass of beer/wine with a golf ball for scoring the highest score in a golf game

b said...

It never pays to speak the truth. What people like to hear is lies and more lies. The whole world is full of bullshits.

patriot said...

Mr Ngiam was a top civil servant but never a member to any political party.
Has he ever been a stooge or running dog of the Regime?
Ngiam is the ONLY ONE that
me knows had been reminding
Singaporeans, especially the
Elites, the Need to be virtuous.
His knowledges of Ancient Chinese
Philosophy is comprehensive; most here are more familiar with
Western and Contemporary Philosophers.
Ngiam may not be Socrates, however he is a virtuous man
with sense of conscience and propriety.
He maybe the Only Top Civil Servant worthy of respect.

My salute to Mr Ngiam.

patriot

Anonymous said...

"Mr Ngiam was a top civil servant but never a member to any political party."

Total disagree with that. If you check the history of PAP, PAP will never bestow a high ranking position to a person without PAP affiliation, especially not in the past where the old fart rules the day, control freak and a paranoid. It is running like monarch family with emperor keep their staunch at bay. And this is affirmed in the 1980s where Ngiam didn't actively speak up against the PAP. Just because Ngiam disagree with PAP, does not mean he is not member of PAP. Surely, you can see that there are many high ranking officials who may not disagree with PAP, but yet is PAP member and toe the line ?

Anonymous said...

During his time policies were good and reasonable. That was why the people gave the govt a blank cheque to do anything it wanted.

Anonymous said...

"During his time policies were good and reasonable. That was why the people gave the govt a blank cheque to do anything it wanted."

What make you think the policies were good and reasonable ? You remember there is no internet to expose the pappies at that time, and it is where GRC is introduced, and it is where opp parties are smeared heavily by shittyTimes. Recall that ShittyTimes and ShittyMedia are the lackeys and mouthpiece of the PAP which at its peak of nonsense, lies and deceit (without the internet), just need to check the archives and you know what i saying. Sure, the flat and transport were really affordable then, but that is alsothe period where the old fart built his power base to prepare for his grand finale to control singapore.

I still remember clearly in 1980s how me too get con into thinking that opp party is bad because shittyTimes say so .

patriot said...

Me is consistently not in favour of Single Party Rule since me became a voter in the 70. It is just simply not right to give absolute power to anyone or any organization, just as it is not wise to put all eggs in one basket.

As for Mr Ngiam Tong Dow, though he was a top civil servant, me did not and do not expect him tobe able to turn the Tide. However, he had courageous done his best; may he remains devoted to do good. Surely Singaporeans will appreciate and be grateful for his gallant deeds.

I wish Mr Ngiam and his Family good health and happiness.

patriot

patriot said...

Dear Readers:

'courageous' to read as 'courageously' in my Earlier Comment.

My apology.

patriot

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

You are forgetting a couple of things:

1. No one is sure Socrates actually existed. "Doubt" afterall, was Socrates specialty ;-)

2. The Socratic Method of Inquiry, is the foundation of our modern day "scientific method" where tool sets based on methodological doubt are use to arrive at the truth.

Logic and reason is often used very badly to justify claims or to validate policy/ positions. The Socratic Method teases at logic and reason by applying rules and tools also based on logic and reason to test arguments using DOUBT.

What Singapore government needs is a "Socratic audit" of its policies and the logic/reasons supporting their claims. And there will be failures -- on the govt's part.

Whoever has the balls to do this "Socratic Audit" better be prepared to drink hemlock, or fuck off quickly to some cuntree where they can seek refuge as a tenured professor in law or politics ;-)

One policy which needs the Socratic method to be applied is Section 377A. That is one piece of legislation waiting to be busted -- and it is so easy using The Socratic Method. However it seems the local judiciary is not interested in "truth". They are interested in "political agenda".