Coherentism is the theory of knowledge that tries to provide a good model for being able to justify one’s beliefs. A good working definition of Coherentism is: “For a belief to be justified it must belong to a coherent system of beliefs. For a system of beliefs to be coherent, the beliefs that make up that system must “cohere” with one another.” (Murphy). The themes that occur in Harry Potter are philosophically probing of this idea. The ways that Coherentism trickle down in a society can sometime permit what is called “relativism”.

The moral good that is practical in one situation would not be practical in another. Potter, for instance behaves in order to protect Dumbledore’s memory by honoring his teachings because Dumbledore was “good”. This essay argues that both Socrates and Dumbledore present Coherentism in their ideologies because neither of them believes themselves to be supreme, and both are empathic of the manner that others might perceive and create beliefs. The differences between the two are that Dumbledore may be more of a Consequentialist, or a Utilitarian, than was Socrates. This is because Dumbledore explains to Harry that Muggles might be compromised for the greater good of wizards, (Austin 264). Socrates would probably tend to adhere more to Kantian ethics, or virtue theory, before compromising anyone person for the greater good.

Socrates found himself accused of corrupting the youth with his teachings, and that he was a gadfly to all of Athens. Socrates was charged with being an atheist as well. The defense that Socrates presents for himself is one that stays in line with his virtue. Just as Dumbledore resisted the urge to have power like Voldemort, Socrates resists the urge to save his life. Neither character modifies their virtue in lieu of their situations. Over a span of time, it seems that the themes that Socrates presents in his defense in Plato’s, The Apology, are similar to the themes that Dumbledore represents throughout the Harry Potter Series. Dumbledore has a Socratic sense of knowledge, one that he is not the all-knowing. Voldemort is the foil to Dumbledore’s Socratic self, meaning that Dumbledore’s Socratic qualities are made clear by the contrast with Voldemort’s beliefs. Socrates defends himself against the charge that he is an atheist and a corrupter of the youth. Dumbledore is also considered to corrupt the youth, because the adults did not believe in his teachings.

One thing that is problematic about Coherentism philosophy is that it can be mistaken for relativism, meaning that there is no universal good or any kind of objective scale for what is right and what is wrong. Socrates tells his accusers to consider the testimony of the Oracle at Delphi, who should have some sort of ultimate authority, i.e. can escape Coherentism. This Oracle claimed that Socrates was the wisest man. Socrates was confused by this claim by the Oracle because he felt that he did not know anything. Then, he looked around and saw that there were others who would teach their wisdom, but he did not find them to be wise. That is when the Oracle’s claim about him makes sense, because Socrates claims that, unlike the other teachers of wisdom, he is different. He is different because he knows that he does not know, and because of this realization, he is wiser than these other teachers of wisdom: “I do not suppose that either of us knows anything really beautiful and good, I am better off than he is – for he knows nothing, and thinks that he knows. I neither know nor think that I know.” (Plato). Therefore, Socrates knows the most because he knows that he does not know everything. Socrates is philosophically humble.

Similarly, Dumbledore is a humble wizard, in so much that he is like Socrates because he knows that he does not know everything. Because of this realization, Dumbledore is able to be “good”: “Dumbledore promotes justice in the wizard community simply by knowing himself, resisting the power he craves, and passing his lessons on to his students.” (Austin 138). Because of Dumbledore’s Socratic approach, he has the loyalty of Harry and some of the other students at Hogwarts. Additionally, the manner in which Dumbledore conducts his teachings are like the Socratic dialogue, for he asks relentless amounts of questions in order to arrive at the truth. The manner that the Socratic dialogue supports Coherentism is because any group being questioned is the group that sets the standards of judgment for the belief system. These belief systems can be ones of knowledge, facts, or about morality.

Both Socrates and Dumbledore anticipate what others might feel. Socrates defends Coherentism in his analogy about what cold is and who feels it (Plato), and Dumbledore: “…has a moral imagination. He is able to place himself, imaginatively, in the position of the house-elves and ask himself, “What would I want if I were in this situation?”” (Biondi 23). Because Dumbledore is willing to promote the good of the wizard community at the expense of Muggles, the primary difference between the Dumbledore and Socrates is their adherence, or lack thereof, to virtue ethics. Neither of these teachers claim to be the supreme philosopher, or the wizard; the knowledge that they impart is threatening to their adversaries. The adversaries, Voldemort, or the Athenian Court, serve as foils for the view of Coherentism. The fact that both Socrates and Dumbledore are condemned for their wisdom is a parallel that condemns anti-coherent belief systems.