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Socrates was a Greek Philosopher who profoundly affected Western Philosophy through
his indirect influence on others. He first began studying with the Sophists, the ancient
Greek teachers of rhetoric, philosophy, and the art of successful living, prominent for
their adroit, subtle, and allegedly often-specious reasoning. However, he believed in a
superiority of argument over writing, and spent most of his time in the marketplace and
public areas of Athens, engaging in dialogue or argument with anyone who was willing
to learn. He achieved social popularity due to his keen sense of humor, and believed that
sarcasm was the lowest form of humor. His use of critical reasoning, his unwavering
commitment to truth, and through the example of his life, he set the standard for all
subsequent Western Philosophy. His life and teachings were profound and far-reaching
due to his attitude toward politics, his teachings, and his trial.
Because he wrote no books, and established no regular school of philosophy, not very
much is certain about his personality and teachings. All that is known of his teachings in
that which has been ascertained from his pupils. Plato, a disciple of his, accepted his
basic philosophy and dialectical style of debate: the pursuit of truth through questions,
answers, and additional questions. Plato portrayed Socrates as hiding behind and ironical
profession of ignorance, known as Socratic irony, and possessing a mental acuity and
resourcefulness that enabled him to penetrate arguments with great facility. The second
chief source on Socrates life and teachings comes from the historian Xenophon, a prosaic
writer who probably failed to understand much of Socrates doctrine. Some historians
even believe that Socrates was a fictional character created by Plato.
Socrates believed that pursuing philosophy would serve his country best. He was
obedient to the laws of Athens, but generally steered clear of politics. He was devoted to
teaching, and persuading Athenians to engage in self-cultivation and examination of their
souls. In the Socratic dialogues, his extended conversations with students, statesmen, and
friends invariably aiming at understanding and achieving virtue through that careful
application of a dialectical method that employs critical inquiry to undermine the
plausibility of widely held doctrines. He sought to take apart the illusion that we already
comprehend the world perfectly and honestly, telling his pupils to simply accept their
own ignorance. Socrates believed that the vital steps towards acquisition of genuine
knowledge must be achieved through discovery of the universal definitions of the key
concepts governing human life. He was committed to these beliefs and to the job of
helping others to actualize themselves and the world around them.
Socrates contribution to Philosophy was essentially ethical in character. Belief in a purely
objective understanding of concepts such as love, justice, and virtue, and the self
knowledge that he inculcated, were the basis of his teachings. He believed that all vice is
the result of ignorance, and that no person is willingly bad; correspondingly, virtue is
knowledge, and those who know the right will act rightly. His logic placed emphasis on
rational argument and the quest for general definitions. Through these concepts, Socrates
was able to affect the writings of Plato, Aristotle, and all subsequent Western speculative
thought. Socrates was considered to be the embodiment and guide to higher life.
Socrates was unlike the other Sophists of his time. He declined to accept payment for his
work with students, and despite his lofty distain for material success, many of them were
still fanatically loyal to him. His continuing and humble pursuit of higher truth brought
him great success in all facets of life, and eventually, also, brought about his demise.
Although a patriot and a man of deep religious conviction, Socrates came to be regarded
with suspicion by many of his contemporaries. Because of his questioning attitude toward
the Athenian state and the established religion, many people were displeased with his
affect on his pupils. Athenian jury found him guilty of corrupting the youth and
interfering with the religion of the city, and sentenced him to death, by drinking
poisonous hemlock in 399 B.C.E. He was also charged with neglecting the god of the
state and introducing new divinities, a reference to the mystical inner voice that Socrates
often spoke of.
At Socrates trial, Plato made The Apology in Socrates defense that was a bold
vindication of his whole life. The most accurate of Plato's writings on Socrates is
probably The Apology. The word "apology" comes from the Greek word for "defensespeech" and does not mean what we think of today as an apology. Plato made the speech
to show a justification for Socrates' life. In it, Plato outlines some of Socrates' most
famous philosophical ideas: the necessity of doing what one thinks is right even in the
face of universal opposition, and the need to pursue knowledge even when opposed.
Nonetheless, Socrates was condemned to die, although only by a small majority of the
vote. Socrates friends planned an escape from prison for him, however, he preferred to
comply with the law and die for his cause. Socrates was entirely convinced that his
arguments held, and concluded that it would be wrong to escape from prison. As always,
his actions conformed to the outcome of his reasoning. He chose to honor his
commitment to truth and morality, even though it cost him his life. In the end, he passed
away in the company of his friends and disciples.
Socrates wrote nothing because he felt that knowledge was a living, interactive thing.
Socrates' method of philosophical inquiry consisted in questioning people on the
positions they asserted and working them through questions into a contradiction, thus
proving to them that their original assertion was wrong. Socrates himself never takes a
position; in The Apology Plato radically and skeptically claims to know nothing at all
except that he knows nothing. Socrates and Plato refer to this method of questioning as
elenchus, loosely translated as "cross-examination" The Socratic elenchus eventually
gave rise to dialectic, the idea that truth needs to be pursued by modifying one's position
through questioning and conflict with opposing ideas. It is this idea of the truth being
pursued, rather than discovered, that characterizes Socratic thought and much of our
worldview today. The Western notion of dialectic is somewhat Socratic in nature in that
it is conceived of as an ongoing process. Although The Apology claims to have
discovered no other truth than that he knows no truth, the Socrates of Plato's other earlier
dialogues is of the opinion that truth is somehow attainable through this process of
elenchus.
Socrates was a wise and noble man. His teachings and sayings have resonated through
the history on Western philosophy. His doctrine of the soul led him to the belief that all
virtues converge into one, which is the good, or knowledge of one's true self and
purposes through the course of a lifetime. Knowledge in turn depends on the nature or
essence of things as they really are, for the underlying forms of things are more real than
their experienced exemplifications. This conception leads to a teleological view of the
world that all the forms participate in and lead to the highest form, the form of the good.
Plato later elaborated this doctrine as central to his own philosophy. Socrates' view is
often described as holding virtue and knowledge to be identical, so that no man
knowingly does wrong. Since virtue is identical with knowledge, it can be taught, but not
as a professional specialty as the Sophists had pretended to teach it. However, Socrates
himself gave no final answer to how virtue can be learned.
Socrates was a Greek philosopher; and developer of philosophical thought concerned
with the analysis of the character and conduct of human life; famous for his injunction
"know thyself;" remembered for his conviction on charges of impiety and death by
drinking poisonous hemlock. Famous for his view of philosophy as a pursuit proper and
necessary to all intelligent men, he is one of the great examples of a man who lived by his
principles even though they ultimately cost him his life.
Keywords:
socrates greek philosopher profoundly affected western philosophy through indirect
influence others first began studying with sophists ancient greek teachers rhetoric
philosophy successful living prominent their adroit subtle allegedly often specious
reasoning however believed superiority argument over writing spent most time
marketplace public areas athens engaging dialogue argument with anyone willing learn
achieved social popularity keen sense humor believed that sarcasm lowest form humor
critical reasoning unwavering commitment truth through example life standard
subsequent western philosophy life teachings were profound reaching attitude toward
politics teachings trial because wrote books established regular school very much certain
about personality teachings that known that which been ascertained from pupils plato
disciple accepted basic dialectical style debate pursuit truth through questions answers
additional questions plato portrayed socrates hiding behind ironical profession ignorance
known socratic irony possessing mental acuity resourcefulness enabled penetrate
arguments with great facility second chief source socrates life comes from historian
xenophon prosaic writer probably failed understand much doctrine some historians even
believe fictional character created plato believed pursuing would serve country best
obedient laws athens generally steered clear politics devoted teaching persuading
athenians engage self cultivation examination their souls socratic dialogues extended
conversations students statesmen friends invariably aiming understanding achieving
virtue careful application dialectical method employs critical inquiry undermine
plausibility widely held doctrines sought take apart illusion already comprehend world
perfectly honestly telling pupils simply accept their ignorance vital steps towards
acquisition genuine knowledge must achieved discovery universal definitions concepts
governing human committed these beliefs helping others actualize themselves world
around them contribution essentially ethical character belief purely objective
understanding concepts such love justice virtue self knowledge inculcated were basis vice
result ignorance person willingly correspondingly virtue knowledge those know right will
rightly logic placed emphasis rational argument quest general definitions these concepts
able affect writings aristotle subsequent western speculative thought considered
embodiment guide higher unlike other sophists time declined accept payment work
students despite lofty distain material success many them were still fanatically loyal
continuing humble pursuit higher truth brought great success facets eventually also
brought about demise although patriot deep religious conviction came regarded suspicion
many contemporaries because questioning attitude toward athenian state established
religion many people displeased affect pupils athenian jury found guilty corrupting youth
interfering religion city sentenced death drinking poisonous hemlock also charged
neglecting state introducing divinities reference mystical inner voice often spoke trial
made apology defense bold vindication whole most accurate writings probably apology
word apology comes from greek word defense speech does mean what think today made
speech show justification outlines some most famous philosophical ideas necessity doing
what thinks right even face universal opposition need pursue even when opposed
nonetheless condemned although only small majority vote friends planned escape prison
however preferred comply cause entirely convinced arguments held concluded would
wrong escape prison always actions conformed outcome reasoning chose honor
commitment morality though cost passed away company friends disciples wrote nothing
because felt living interactive thing method philosophical inquiry consisted questioning
people positions they asserted working them questions into contradiction thus proving
original assertion wrong himself never takes position radically skeptically claims know
nothing except knows nothing refer this method questioning elenchus loosely translated
cross examination socratic elenchus eventually gave rise dialectic idea needs pursued
modifying position conflict opposing ideas this idea being pursued rather than discovered
characterizes thought much worldview today notion dialectic somewhat nature conceived
ongoing process although claims have discovered other than knows other earlier
dialogues opinion somehow attainable this process elenchus wise noble sayings have
resonated history doctrine soul belief virtues converge into which good true self purposes
course lifetime turn depends nature essence things they really underlying forms things
more real than experienced exemplifications conception leads teleological view world
forms participate lead highest form form good later elaborated doctrine central view often
described holding identical knowingly does wrong since identical taught professional
specialty sophists pretended teach however himself gave final answer learned philosopher
developer philosophical thought concerned analysis character conduct human famous
injunction know thyself remembered conviction charges impiety death drinking
poisonous hemlock famous view pursuit proper necessary intelligent great examples lived
principles though they ultimately cost
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