On behalf of the university of Iceland philosophy department, I have spent the last three weeks filling in and corrupting the bright minds of youth. In the footsteps of Socrates, it’s a grand old tradition, right up until the poison chalice.

My remit has been to cover the Hellenistic period, a menagerie of Stoics, Epicureans, Skeptics—and a little past the due date—even a few Christians. It’s a fascinating period, marked by wild, and shockingly accurate, physical theories, apocryphal characters and fierce argument.

Above all, though, it is a period in which Greek philosophy was bitten by a bug for therapy. Only accidentally concerned with truth, the terms of the Hellenistic deal were straightforward—follow my school and I’ll make you happy.

It’s a rare moment in the history of philosophy when the experts bother to reach out, arms open, and offer something to the general populace, not just dictate rules or, as often enough happens, wander off altogether into the intellectual shrubbery (up their own backside if you prefer).

It’s hardly surprising that philosophy in this time also had an unparalleled role in society and politics.

The foremost politician of the Roman Republic, Cicero, was also an Academic Skeptic and expert witness for all the schools of his time. The Emperor Marcus Aurelius was a practicing Stoic, fulfilling Plato’s notion of the philosopher king.

The theme of my lesson is obvious, isn’t it?

And when could it be more pertinent than in Iceland’s current political era—of distrust, alleged corruption and loss of faith?

Architect-to-some of the financial collapse Davíd Oddsson, positioned as nominal editor of the flagship newspaper, questionable deals with foreign energy companies and pressure from the PM-on-a-stained-white horse to push similar projects ahead. IMF loans, EU referendums (or not), headhunts for the financial culprits.

In good Skeptical tradition I am suspending judgment on all of these issues for this column— where you stand is not always the point. It’s what puts you there and how you stand. Sometimes it is the big questions that matter.

When the problems faced are material, maybe the best answers are to be found on another level. Firmly held and distinct values, well formulated and open to question, and clear evidence for these—the Hellenistic example, that it would do Icelandic leadership well to follow.

If nothing else it would do wonders to heal the breach in trust and cooperation between people and government. And then, who knows, perhaps the next generation will be able to do a better job of things.

But if not you can follow that other Greek example, just blame the teachers…

Simon Barker – frigno@gmail.com