The Hidden Message in Plato’s Laches: Damon the Bad Teacher and the Need for an Aristos Didaskalos

The four references to Damon in the Laches center on Nicias’ relationship with his teacher Damon. Damon is credited as the true author of the thesis of ‘courage episteme,’ which Nicias articulates (La. 197d), and Nicias expresses complete dependence on Damon’s guidance to effectively defend this thesis, passively adhering to his teacher’s insights (La. 200a-b). Although Nicias exhibits familiarity with contemporary intellectual debates, he ultimately reveals an inability and unwillingness to acknowledge his own aporia, prioritizing his public image instead. In contrast, Laches, who claims to be unaccustomed to philosophical discussions, makes genuine progress in the conversation. Also, the behavior of the ‘real’ Nicias (during the Sicilian expedition) could appear as completely betraying the definition of courage as ‘knowledge of what is to be feared and what is to be trusted.’ All of this suggests a negative judgment of Damon and his teacher role and explains why Plato chose to have the ‘courage episteme’ thesis articulated not by Damon but by Nicias qua Damon’s disciple. Therefore, alongside the discussion of courage, another central theme emerges in the Laches: the true role of an aristos didaskalos, as highlighted by Socrates’ final words in 201a. This theme is emphasized by portraying the esteemed teacher Damon as a ‘bad teacher,’ unable to engender the only genuine wisdom, which is “knowing that you do not know.” This issue becomes even more significant considering that when Plato wrote the dialogue, Damon was recognized as Pericles’ teacher not only in music but also in politics and wisdom in general. Then, the question could arise: is Damon a poor teacher in relation to Pericles as well?