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The Ancient Greek Philosophers
Socrates
Σωκράτης
Socrates
One of the founders of
Western philosophy
However, he never wrote
anything down!
So, we know about him
through other writers,
especially Plato and
Xenophon, and the plays of
his contemporary
Aristophanes.
Socrates
Born in 469 B.C.
Father was a
stonemason, mother
was a midwife
http://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=k2Kzymrm
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Teaching
Socrates had many “students,”
but no formal school, and he
never accepted payment for
teaching because he believed
that knowledge should be free
to all who seek it
He exemplified his beliefs by
walking through the streets of
Athens barefoot year-round in
ragged clothing.
Marriage
•
•
•
He married Xanthippe, who was
rumored to have a terrible
temper
For example, she once became
so angry at Socrates (probably
because he never worked for
money) that she dumped a pot
of urine on his head!
“By all means, marry. If you get
a good wife, you'll become
happy; if you get a bad one,
you'll become a philosopher”
Sophists
During Socrates’ adulthood, many
Sophists came to Athens, promising to
teach the Athenian youth to be wise
and virtuous . . . For a price.
Socrates never missed the opportunity
to publicly match wits with one of these
Sophists, which usually ended with the
Sophist looking like the fool he was
and leaving town.
In fact, the word “sophistry” now
refers to a false, superficial argument.
Politics
Socrates had a great deal of respect for the laws of Athens, but
not so much for its politicians.
In fact, some scholars
argue that he was
against democracy in
general.
He considered himself a
"gadfly."
• While there is not any evidence that he directly confronted
politicians the way he did with Sophists, he had a great deal of
power in Athens, especially with young people.
Oracle at Delphi
• Socrates' friend Chaerephon asked
the oracle at Delphi if anyone was
wiser than Socrates, and the Oracle
responded that none was wiser.
• Socrates believed that what the
Oracle had said was a paradox,
because he believed he possessed no
wisdom whatsoever.
• He proceeded to test the riddle by
approaching men considered wise by
the people of Athens—statesmen,
poets, and artisans—in order to refute
the Oracle's pronouncement.
Socrates the Gadfly
• Questioning them, however, Socrates concluded that, while
each man thought he knew a great deal and was wise, in fact
they knew very little and were not wise at all.
• Socrates realized while so-called wise men thought themselves
wise and yet were not, he himself knew he was not wise at all,
which, paradoxically, made him the wiser one since he was the
only person aware of his own ignorance.
Trial
Arrested for corrupting young minds and worshipping false gods
Plato’s Apology tells the story of Socrates’ trial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bVBpLjh13E
Death
Socrates was found guilty and sentenced to death.
He had the opportunity to escape, but chose to stay for several reasons:
He believed such a flight would indicate a fear of death, which he
believed no true philosopher has.
If he fled Athens his teaching would fare no better in another country as
he would continue questioning all he met and undoubtedly incur their
displeasure.
Having knowingly agreed to live under the city's laws, he implicitly
subjected himself to the possibility of being accused of crimes by its
citizens and judged guilty by its jury. To do otherwise would have caused
him to break his "social contract" with the state, and so harm the state, an
act contrary to Socratic principle.
Socrates - Favorite Quotes
"Nature has given us two eyes, two ears, and but one
tongue--to that end, we should see and hear more
than we speak."
"Ignorance is the only evil.“
“Be as you wish to seem.”
“Not life, but good life, is chiefly to be valued.”
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
“Wisdom begins in wonder.”
Socrates - Body Biography
A body biography is a combination of artwork and writing,
which can be
Quotes from Socrates
Your own explanations of the Socrates’ traits
Your body biography is not suppose to be a literal
representation of Socrates
It should be more like a giant collage of written ideas,
drawings, and symbols that work together to show us how
well you understand what we have learned about Socrates
BE CREATIVE!
Body Biography Guidelines
THE HEART
• THE HANDS
• What is the work that he does?
• What tools does he use?
Where should you place it to best
represent what Socrates loves most?
What should it look like and what shape,
• QUOTATIONS
color, pictures, or symbols should be
included in it?
• “Direct” quotations from Socrates
THE BACKBONE
• Things others say about Socrates
• SURROUNDINGS – What other things were
What is the most important goal for
going on in Socrates’ life that influenced him?
Socrates
What drives his thoughts and actions?• WRITTEN EXPLANATION
THE FEET
What is the foundation for his beliefs?
What does he stand for?
• Write a paragraph explaining your design
• Explain each of the symbols you used and
why
Other Helpful Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmHAdgDkcCw&f
eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1hIU1iZG7o&fea
ture=related