Greek Society vs. Socrates Essay

Plato reveals the views of Socrates on the query of whether virtue is knowledge and whether virtue may be taught in a number of dialogues, mainly in Meno. In the dialogue, Socrates creates several differing arguments on virtue, which include the definition of virtue and questions on whether persons can attain it. In addition, Plato demonstrates the means by which virtue can be obtained, as well as ponders on whether persons are born virtuous, whether virtue may be taught or it is an added factor for righteous individuals (Novelguide.com n.pag.). The paper will focus on Socrates' query of whether virtue is knowledge as well as highlight whether virtue may be taught.

Virtue in the Greek world was determined mainly by how one is viewed by others. This was an important notion for the Greeks, since their society was very

The portrayal of Socrates, through the book “the trial and death of Socrates” is one that has created a fairly controversial character in Western history. In many ways, Socrates changed the idea of common philosophy in ancient Greece; he transformed their view on philosophy from a study of why the way things are, into a consideration man. Specifically, he analyzed the virtue and health of the human soul. Along side commending Socrates for his strong beliefs, and having the courage to stand by those convictions, Socrates can be commended for many other desirable characteristics. Some of those can include being the first martyr to die for his philosophical beliefs and having the courage to challenge indoctrinated cultural norms is part of

If Meno is something of a dummy for aristocratic Sophist sympathizers, Anytus is even more clearly a stand-in for the somber, unconsidered values of the Athenian political elite. An actual historical politician of the time, he's grumpy, largely closed to new ideas, and insistent on inherited, class-based customs as the vehicle for virtue--he suggests that any "gentleman" on the streets of Athens is a fine example of virtue. Anytus, an Athenian conservative, despises the Sophists. Like other prominent Athenians at the time, he is probably suspicious of the Sophists' cleverness with words and their tendency to lead young followers away from success in worldly matters. Socrates encounters this idea that philosophy is a corrupting influence in many of his dialogues, and that perception will eventually lead to his trial and execution for "corrupting the youth." Thus, Plato is all the more determined to highlight Socrates' profound differences from the Sophists.

During the Peloponnesian War, Protagoras’s belief that “man is the measure of all things” and Euripides’ Trojan Women both exemplify the Greek Ideal at the time that truth is found inside of men, and all men have their own version of truth. During the Peloponnesian War, Athens and Sparta focused on personal goals as opposed to working together towards common goals. The moral lines during the Peloponnesian War were much more “cloudy” than they were during the Persian War; it was hard to tell who the “good” guys were as opposed to the “bad” guys. Consequently, the Greek Ideal altered itself to believe that truth is found inside of men, not outside of them; truth became relative to each and every person. Individualism rose to become the most

In ancient Greek society, the ethos, the characteristic spirit of community, played an important role in the overall success of Greek civilization. The “spirit” in both the context of the real people in societies rule and the gods overseeing and influencing actions directly impacted the aspirations, beliefs, and customs of the people. While many of the pillars of the ethos sought to further the positive attributes of society in Greek civilization such as love, reconciliation, and patriotism, the aspects of ethos concerning pride and revenge often corrupted humanity into making selfish decisions for their own self-serving needs, often at a detrimental cost to the overall well-being of the rest. In several Greek literary works its not either pride or revenge

Paige Botie Professor Aviv HONR 1015 September 22, 2014 Title Socrates argues that in order to protect the purity of one’s soul, one must adhere to all surfaces of the law to promote civic virtue. However, I argue that an individual must challenge laws that are misused. In doing so, it protects the citizens from unjust rule and ultimately honors one’s virtues and standards of morality. A strong autonomy in a large city, like Athens, is essential to discourage any abuse of the law by those in power and to allow the citizens to practice self-governance.

Socrates discovered that men of good repute were not wise in their moral values and were foolish., while those of lesser means were more knowledgeable. The argument here is that Socrates earned a poor reputation because he publicly exposed the wealthy men of Athens in their ignorance and lack of knowledge. This inquisition led Socrates to have many enemies. (Apology, 3) During the trial Socrates referred several times to the force of truth. He is implying that he wants Athenians to accept logical conclusions even if they may not want to. Socrates also claims that obsession with wealth and material things must never take precedence over the care of one's soul. Socrates challenges their values and asks if they are not ashamed of their eagerness to possess wealth, honor, and reputation and caring little about wisdom and truth and enriching their souls? Socrates is attempting to reveal to the jury that the soul is forever and is more important then physical obsession. Furthermore, he says that "this is the command of God and that my service to you is to show you that I'm here to improve your soul." (Apology, 6) Wealth and prestige, for most Athenians, was very important and hearing these claims and the commands from god further fueled the anger against Socrates. Later he identifies himself as a gadfly sent by god to awaken and arouse the people and to show them the way to enlightment and improve their soul. To prove his mission that he was given by god, he

Socrates spent his time questioning people about things like virtue, justice, piety and truth. The people Socrates questioned are the people that condemned him to death. Socrates was sentenced to death because people did not like him and they wanted to shut him up for good. There was not any real evidence against Socrates to prove the accusations against him. Socrates was condemned for three major reasons: he told important people exactly what he thought of them, he questioned ideas that had long been the norm, the youth copied his style of questioning for fun, making Athenians think Socrates was teaching the youth to be rebellious. But these reasons were not the charges against him, he was charged with being an atheist and

As is already known, Homeric literature served as the model for educating Greek boys and young men, as well male Roman citizens later on in Antiquity. The passages of Homer and Hesiod instructed a decorum which defined proper behavior as unyielding bravery in the field of battle, and the continuous desire for besting an opponent through strident competition, or agon in the Greek. Achilles defined this part of heroic conduct, while Odysseus, through his renowned ability for persuasion, defined the other. Ideally therefore, both ways melded together provided a path to immortality and glory, which was the ultimate goal for every male aspirant in Classical Athens. As can be witnessed in Homeric literature – especially the Iliad – the real meaning of this immortality lay in the recognition of one’s achievements by his peers. And while immortality naturally meant being remembered for one’s actions, the potential for infamy also was part and parcel of this method. Therefore, this path to everlasting glory may been seen as highly individualistic, with no lasting contribution to the society left behind. Yet this masculine-nihilistic

     “The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living.” This is the famous quote proclaimed by Socrates, a controversial philosopher of ancient Athens. He believed that anyone could lead a significant and meaningful existence by examining his or her own life and ideas very thoroughly. (Soccio)

In the Republic of Plato, the philosopher Socrates lays out his notion of the good, and draws the conclusion that virtue must be attained before one can be good. For Socrates there are two kinds of virtue; collective and individual. Collective virtue is virtue as whole, or the virtues of the city. Individual virtue pertains to the individual himself, and concerns the acts that the individual does, and concerns the individual’s soul. For Socrates, the relationship between individual and collective virtue is that they are the same, as the virtues of the collective parallel those of the Individual. This conclusion can be reached as both the city and the soul deal with the four main virtues of wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice.

Completely accepting the Ancient Greek gods` definition is not something that we must easily do. For the definition of virtue has undoubtedly changed the course of human history. Furthermore, the gods who ordained such virtues were temperamental and, in no way, completely virtuous. Despite whatever changes may have occurred in our idea regarding virtue, the essence remains the same: help others or oneself, act justly and kindly and so on. Thus, we do not need to disregard the changes that have occurred, even if we wish to learn the teachings of Homeric epics.

Nevertheless the impact Socrates had on the Greek culture in 440 BC continues to live on through our twenty-first century. Many great leaders and superior figures use Socrates’s theory as an example for their own morals, ethics and behaviors. He defied the norm of society by questioning authorities and challenged the customs and values preeminent of society. So before we raise the question of what is typical, common, usual or otherwise what is deemed normal, I present with a final quote from Socrates: “To find yourself, think for

Socrates was after the pursuit of truth. Because of this he called everything into question(Philosophypages.com). He believed that ultimate wisdom came from understanding oneself. He believed that the perfect government would come about if it was led by people that had a complete understanding of themselves because they would be able to make the best choices. He believed that knowledge and virtue were inseparable. He said that you could define virtue as right knowledge, and that right thinking and right doing can be distinguished from each other, but they can not be separated.(Sproul 31) Socrates also developed the Socratic Method which is still used to this day. The Socratic Method is the method in which you ask provocative questions in order to try to get your opponent and your audience to think through the problem and to develop their own conclusion(Biography.com). He searched for specific definitions by asking people around the city, from the common to the richest of nobles. Socrates also created ethics based on human reasons. He was deemed the wisest man in Athens by an oracle, but after much thought he realized that he was ignorant but unlike the common man, was wiser for accepting his ignorance and he came to the conclusion that ignorance was the beginning of knowledge. He believed that logic was what was left when the facts are exhausted.