Socrates World Views

Through several dialogues Plato gives readers accounts of Socrates’ interactions with other Athenians. While some may think of him as a teacher of sorts, Socrates is adamant in rejecting any such claim (Plato, Apology 33a-b). He insists that he is not a teacher because he is not transferring any knowledge from himself to others, but rather assisting those he interacts with in reaching the truth. This assistance is the reason Socrates walks around Athens, engaging in conversation with anyone that he can convince to converse with him. An assertion he makes at his trial in Plato’s Apology is at the center of what drives Socrates in his abnormal ways, “the unexamined life is not worth living for a human being” (38a). Socrates, through aporia, looks to lead an examined life to perfect his soul and live as the best person he can be. This paper looks to examine the ‘unexamined life’ and the implications rooted in living a life like Socrates’.

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

Socrates believes that betterment of the soul is main concern in philosophy and his core teachings are the foundation for improvement for us.

Socrates, arguably one of the godfathers of western philosophy, is always an interesting character to investigate, debate and criticize. Even with his, major or minor flaws he presents what must be said to be the foundation of philosophical thought in the western world. The ancient Greeks, and the their society, presents a terribly interesting mirror to the modern western civilization and society of today, mainly embedded within their esthetically and (partly) democratic thoughts. The life contained in these two societies is what this essay is inspired by. This essay is by no means a trial in finding a conclusive endpoint in the search for ethical and existential meaning, it might not even be a starting point. Arguably philosophy is all about

“Knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing” This quote shows the mindset of a Philosopher, but not just of any Philosopher, but the mindset of the brilliant Socrates. His method of reasoning influenced many other philosophers for years to come even today it’s apparent that his works influences us on a societal level.

In The Republic, Socrates poses two different views on education. “Socrates uses numerous varying and often conflicting ideas and images (among which is the first account of education) to gradually guide his pupils toward a personal realization of knowledge and philosophy.”

First, Socrates proposes the best three philosophical views out of all the philosophers studied this semester. The most important aspect of Socrates’s philosophy is his idea of virtue. Virtue can be defined as a trait or characteristic that allows one to be morally excellent as a human being and perform morally good actions. Socrates believes that he is one with virtue and that it can be taught as can knowledge. This idea is very apparent in the Crito when Socrates uses virtue as a reason to not escape. He tells Crito that he doesn’t think anyone should ever do wrong, even in return. Even though the agreement that was reached in his trial may be unjust, Socrates believes that it is a just agreement because there was no compulsion, deceit, or

He believed that the people of Athens were not thinking clearly and did not live a life of virtue or self-prosperity. Bringing this topic back to a modern day world, I would agree that not much has changed. Many or most of us would admit that our moral compass is not facing the right direction. We are able to say that we are “knowledgeable” in certain aspects of life such as having practical everyday skills. Essentially, all the qualities we write about ourselves on our resumes, for instance. Some people may be wealthy and think that they have achieved all there is to gain, but in reality they have catered only to themselves and not thought about the people around them and who they knocked down to be able to climb up the pyramid. Our moral virtues can be changed and we can destroy our old habits. So is it desirable to live a life of moral excellence? In my opinion, I would have to say, yes. But, how do we live arete way of life? I believe it can be achieved by developing virtue, eudaimonia, and finding ones true self. But this is not just my opinion, it is believed by many and I personally agree. “I say that it is the greatest good for a human being to discuss excellence (aretē) every day and those other things about which you hear me conversing.”(Socrates, Apology 38A) Socrates states that to live a prosperous life, we need 3 important aspects in our lives, logos,

When Socrates was alive there were a lot of different things happening and personal struggle he had to face in life. He wanted things to change for the better.

Socrates has a sound and exacting standard of what real knowledge should be, and therefore knows how far short he and all the rest of them come to reaching that standard

Socrates’ journey throughout the Republic brought him to a conclusive point where he presented a final image of the soul to show how an unjust man, who appeared to be just, was fundamentally not benefitting from his unjust way of life and held a soul, which was exceedingly far from being ideal. This image of the soul Socrates presented consisted of three unequal

So, as told by Plato, Socrates began his defence before an Athenian jury on charges of impiety and corrupting the youth of the city. However, the real aim of these accusations seems to have been to challenge the way in which Socrates had conducted his life—a life dedicated to the continuous debate of various ethical issues and the attainment of wisdom and truth. Indeed, Socrates’ importance to the development of philosophy, considered by many to be the greatest achievement of the Greeks, cannot be understated.

Socrates makes a profound impact in our minds through his wisdom, his power of critical thinking, moral strength and intelligence. In the end it is Plato who immortalizes Socrates in the popular imagination as a man of profound knowledge. Socrates’ effectiveness as a philosopher depended as much on the strength and interest of his personality as on the power of his mind. Socrates’ philosophy was based on discovering the truth, understanding moral life and talking about the elements that make up a good life. In my judgment, one of the most important things about Socrates ' quest was, indeed, the persistent habit and practice of being critical and thoughtful, not being truly blind to one 's own groundless convictions and assumptions. Contemplation and critical self awareness as a way of worthy life is what Socrates stands for. So, therefore, he adopted questioning people about their knowledge as the foremost maxim for his life, and that is why he ultimately believed that "the unexamined life is not worth living."

“‘The ‘real’ Socrates we have not: what we have is a set of interpretations each of which represents a ‘theoretically possible’ Socrates’”(Cornelia de Vogel). Unfortunately, historians today can only base Socrates upon what others have written, and because so many wrote about an obviously different person, it is hard to come up with who he really was. “‘There is, and always will be, a ‘Socratic Problem’. This is inevitable’”(W.K.C Guthrie). The true Socrates might never be unveiled.

Nowadays the word wisdom is an influential quality to possess as society accepts and review ideas. As a wise person you are praised to have a grand amount of knowledge or understanding, but if we rewind time, the same acceptance for a famous philosopher that we consider today, was not in high paised. A man of the name Socrates was defined as a wise character by the oracle of Delphi. At time of now we deem Socrates as a man who challenge the concept of philosophy. As Socrates encounters the true meaning of wisdom he came upon his death penalty for spreading his interpretations.A man that ought to be admire for the way he glance the world, was rejected by society for reasons that was irrelevant to his purpose.