# Socrates — Culture and Anarchy character guide

> Socrates in Culture and Anarchy by Matthew Arnold.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Socrates

**First appearance:** 0002-culture-and-anarchy

## Who they are

Classical philosopher used as a model of the examined life and intellectual inquiry.

## Relationships

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/characters/narrator)

_psychological_

The narrator invokes Socrates as a philosophical touchstone, using his method of questioning to critique modern society and culture.

### [Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/characters/narrator)

_psychological_

The narrator invokes Socrates as a philosophical touchstone, using his method of questioning to critique modern society and culture.

## In the story

### [IV: Hebraism and Hellenism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/iv-hebraism-and-hellenism)

Implied through the Hellenic emphasis on seeing things as they really are, though not directly named in the excerpt.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/chapters/conclusion)

Invoked as the exemplar of disinterested consciousness and the power to challenge stock notions, whose influence surpasses that of political orators.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/characters/socrates
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/culture_and_anarchy_se/characters