Philosophy
is thinking really hard about the most important questions and trying to bring
analytic clarity both to the questions and the answers.
is thinking really hard about the most important questions and trying to bring
analytic clarity both to the questions and the answers.
Life character and philosophy of Socrates
Life of Socrates
Born
circa 470 BC in Athens, Greece, Socrates’s life is chronicled through only a
few sources—the dialogues of Plato and Xenophon and the plays of Aristophanes.
Because these writings had other purposes than reporting his life, it is likely
none present a completely accurate picture. However, collectively, they provide
a unique and vivid portrayal of Socrates’s philosophy and personality.
circa 470 BC in Athens, Greece, Socrates’s life is chronicled through only a
few sources—the dialogues of Plato and Xenophon and the plays of Aristophanes.
Because these writings had other purposes than reporting his life, it is likely
none present a completely accurate picture. However, collectively, they provide
a unique and vivid portrayal of Socrates’s philosophy and personality.
Socrates
was the son of Sophroniscus, an Athenian stone mason and sculptor, and
Phaenarete, a midwife. Because he wasn’t from a noble family, he probably
received a basic Greek education and learned his father’s craft at a young age.
It is believed Socrates worked as mason for many years before he devoted his
life to philosophy. Contemporaries differ in their account of how Socrates
supported himself as a philosopher. Both Xenophon and Aristophanes state
Socrates received payment for teaching, while Plato writes Socrates explicitly
denied accepting payment, citing his poverty as proof.
was the son of Sophroniscus, an Athenian stone mason and sculptor, and
Phaenarete, a midwife. Because he wasn’t from a noble family, he probably
received a basic Greek education and learned his father’s craft at a young age.
It is believed Socrates worked as mason for many years before he devoted his
life to philosophy. Contemporaries differ in their account of how Socrates
supported himself as a philosopher. Both Xenophon and Aristophanes state
Socrates received payment for teaching, while Plato writes Socrates explicitly
denied accepting payment, citing his poverty as proof.
Socrates
married Xanthippe, a younger woman, who bore him three sons—Lamprocles,
Sophroniscus and Menexenus. There is little known about her except for
Xenophon’s characterization of Xanthippe as “undesirable.” He writes
she was not happy with Socrates’s second profession and complained that he
wasn’t supporting family as a philosopher. By his own words, Socrates had
little to do with his sons’ upbringing and expressed far more interest in the
intellectual development of Athens’ young boys.
married Xanthippe, a younger woman, who bore him three sons—Lamprocles,
Sophroniscus and Menexenus. There is little known about her except for
Xenophon’s characterization of Xanthippe as “undesirable.” He writes
she was not happy with Socrates’s second profession and complained that he
wasn’t supporting family as a philosopher. By his own words, Socrates had
little to do with his sons’ upbringing and expressed far more interest in the
intellectual development of Athens’ young boys.
Athenian
law required all able bodied males serve as citizen soldiers, on call for duty
from ages 18 until 60. According to Plato, Socrates served in the armored
infantry—known as the hoplite—with shield, long spear and face mask. He
participated in three military campaigns during the Peloponnesian War, at Delium,
Amphipolis, and Potidaea, where he saved the life of Alcibiades, a popular
Athenian general. Socrates was known for his courage in battle and
fearlessness, a trait that stayed with him throughout his life. After his
trial, he compared his refusal to retreat from his legal troubles to a
soldier’s refusal to retreat from battle when threatened with death.
law required all able bodied males serve as citizen soldiers, on call for duty
from ages 18 until 60. According to Plato, Socrates served in the armored
infantry—known as the hoplite—with shield, long spear and face mask. He
participated in three military campaigns during the Peloponnesian War, at Delium,
Amphipolis, and Potidaea, where he saved the life of Alcibiades, a popular
Athenian general. Socrates was known for his courage in battle and
fearlessness, a trait that stayed with him throughout his life. After his
trial, he compared his refusal to retreat from his legal troubles to a
soldier’s refusal to retreat from battle when threatened with death.
Plato’s
Symposium provides the best details of Socrates’s physical
appearance. He was not the ideal of Athenian masculinity. Short and stocky,
with a snub nose and bulging eyes, Socrates always seemed to appear to be
staring. However, Plato pointed out that in the eyes of his students, Socrates
possessed a different kind of attractiveness, not based on a physical ideal but
on his brilliant debates and penetrating thought. Socrates always emphasized
the importance of the mind over the relative unimportance of the human body.
This credo inspired Plato’s philosophy of dividing reality into two separate
realms, the world of the senses and the world of ideas, declaring that the
latter was the only important one.
Symposium provides the best details of Socrates’s physical
appearance. He was not the ideal of Athenian masculinity. Short and stocky,
with a snub nose and bulging eyes, Socrates always seemed to appear to be
staring. However, Plato pointed out that in the eyes of his students, Socrates
possessed a different kind of attractiveness, not based on a physical ideal but
on his brilliant debates and penetrating thought. Socrates always emphasized
the importance of the mind over the relative unimportance of the human body.
This credo inspired Plato’s philosophy of dividing reality into two separate
realms, the world of the senses and the world of ideas, declaring that the
latter was the only important one.
The character of Socrates
Socrates
seems to be a very simple man, not having many material possessions and speaking
in a plain, conversational manner. However, this seeming plainness is all a
part of the ironic characteristic of Socrates’ method. Professing his own
ignorance, he engages in conversation with someone claiming to be an expert,
usually in ethical matters. By asking simple questions, Socrates gradually
reveals that his interlocutor is in fact very confused and does not actually
know anything about the matters about which he claimed to be an expert. The
quest for wisdom and the instruction of others through dialogue and inquiry
were considered by Socrates to be the highest aims in life: one of his most
famous sayings is, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Some
have argued that Socrates himself never advanced any theories of his own, and
certainly many of the doctrines that appear in the later dialogues are of
Plato’s invention.
seems to be a very simple man, not having many material possessions and speaking
in a plain, conversational manner. However, this seeming plainness is all a
part of the ironic characteristic of Socrates’ method. Professing his own
ignorance, he engages in conversation with someone claiming to be an expert,
usually in ethical matters. By asking simple questions, Socrates gradually
reveals that his interlocutor is in fact very confused and does not actually
know anything about the matters about which he claimed to be an expert. The
quest for wisdom and the instruction of others through dialogue and inquiry
were considered by Socrates to be the highest aims in life: one of his most
famous sayings is, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Some
have argued that Socrates himself never advanced any theories of his own, and
certainly many of the doctrines that appear in the later dialogues are of
Plato’s invention.
The philosophy of Socrates
Socrates
believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the greater
well-being of society. He attempted to establish an ethical system based on
human reason rather than theological doctrine. He pointed out that human choice
was motivated by the desire for happiness. Ultimate wisdom comes from knowing
oneself. The more a person knows, the greater his or her ability to reason and
make choices that will bring true happiness. Socrates believed that this
translated into politics with the best form of government being neither a
tyranny nor a democracy. Instead, government worked best when ruled by
individuals who had the greatest ability, knowledge, and virtue and possessed a
complete understanding of themselves.
believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the greater
well-being of society. He attempted to establish an ethical system based on
human reason rather than theological doctrine. He pointed out that human choice
was motivated by the desire for happiness. Ultimate wisdom comes from knowing
oneself. The more a person knows, the greater his or her ability to reason and
make choices that will bring true happiness. Socrates believed that this
translated into politics with the best form of government being neither a
tyranny nor a democracy. Instead, government worked best when ruled by
individuals who had the greatest ability, knowledge, and virtue and possessed a
complete understanding of themselves.
For
Socrates, Athens was a classroom and he went about asking questions of the
elite and common man alike, seeking to arrive at political and ethical truths.
Socrates didn’t lecture about what he knew. In fact, he claimed to be ignorant
because he had no ideas, but wise because he recognized his own ignorance. He
asked questions of his fellow Athenians in a dialectic method (the Socratic
Method) which compelled the audience to think through a problem to a logical
conclusion. Sometimes the answer seemed so obvious, it made Socrates’s
opponents look foolish. For this, he was admired by some and vilified by
others.
Socrates, Athens was a classroom and he went about asking questions of the
elite and common man alike, seeking to arrive at political and ethical truths.
Socrates didn’t lecture about what he knew. In fact, he claimed to be ignorant
because he had no ideas, but wise because he recognized his own ignorance. He
asked questions of his fellow Athenians in a dialectic method (the Socratic
Method) which compelled the audience to think through a problem to a logical
conclusion. Sometimes the answer seemed so obvious, it made Socrates’s
opponents look foolish. For this, he was admired by some and vilified by
others.
During
Socrates’s life, Athens was going through a dramatic transition from hegemony
in the classical world to its decline after a humiliating defeat by Sparta in
the Peloponnesian War. Athenians entered a period of instability and doubt
about their identity and place in the world. As a result, they clung to past
glories, notions of wealth, and a fixation with physical beauty. Socrates
attacked these values with his insistent emphasis on the greater importance of
the mind. While many Athenians admired Socrates’s challenges to Greek
conventional wisdom and the humorous way he went about it, an equal number grew
angry and felt he threatened their way of life and uncertain future.
Socrates’s life, Athens was going through a dramatic transition from hegemony
in the classical world to its decline after a humiliating defeat by Sparta in
the Peloponnesian War. Athenians entered a period of instability and doubt
about their identity and place in the world. As a result, they clung to past
glories, notions of wealth, and a fixation with physical beauty. Socrates
attacked these values with his insistent emphasis on the greater importance of
the mind. While many Athenians admired Socrates’s challenges to Greek
conventional wisdom and the humorous way he went about it, an equal number grew
angry and felt he threatened their way of life and uncertain future.
References
Allen, RE. (1981). Socrates and Legal Obligation.
U of Minnesota Press. pp. 65–96.
U of Minnesota Press. pp. 65–96.
Hadot, P. (1995) Philosophy as a Way of Life,
Oxford, Blackwells, p93.
Oxford, Blackwells, p93.
Sacks, O. M. (2009). Encyclopedia of the Ancient
Greek World (p.319) Infobase Publishing
Greek World (p.319) Infobase Publishing
Sarah, K. (1998). Socrates: Fictions of a
Philosopher. p. 34.
Philosopher. p. 34.
Waterfield, R. (2009). Why Socrates Died:
Dispelling the Myths. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.
Dispelling the Myths. New York: W.W. Norton and Company.
Weiss, R. (1998). Socrates Dissatisfied: An
Analysis of Plato’s Crito. Oxford University Press. p. 85.
Analysis of Plato’s Crito. Oxford University Press. p. 85.
Wilson, E. R. (2007). The Death of Socrates.
Harvard University Press. p. 55.
Harvard University Press. p. 55.