Traditional Definition

Socrates stays fairly close to a traditional definition of philosophy. The movement of the text has linear and traditional qualities, and its subject matter starts from standard ideas about philosophy. Whether such a traditional account is the only thing that philosophy can be is part of the question. More accurately, I wonder whether the traditional account has ever been adequate to what philosophy has been all along. I am interested in the possibilities of hypertext philosophy writing, not just because this might lead to some new kind of writing for tomorrow. It might also reveal features of writing yesterday and today.

I was trying to incorporate while gently pushing against traditional modes of argument in philosophy. I hoped to address those who agreed with the traditional definition, and show that there was room for hypertext in philosophy. Then push the borders and perhaps get people thinking about ways that went a bit beyond the traditional modes.