Oliver Cromwell’s plea for self-enquiry resonates in discussions on questioning assumptions and avoiding overconfidence, even though he didn’t always practice what he preached. Agnes Callard explores Socrates’ approach to knowledge, emphasizing it as a profound ethical inquiry rather than a mere rhetorical tool. She delves into the “Tolstoy Problem” of existential questions, cautioning against hasty responses. Callard navigates Socratic ideas with care, highlighting the importance of questioning assumptions and exposing intellectual hypocrisy. While her content is refreshingly clear, the repetitive nature of her explanations sometimes obscures valuable insights on self-knowledge and the significance of facing difficult questions honestly.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jan/16/open-socrates-by-agnes-callard-review-a-design-for-life