...2012 Greek and Roman Civilizations – “What happened to Socrates?” The exact date of Socrates’ birth is not known but is believed he was born sometime around 470 B.C. in Athens, Greece. He is believed to have earned a living as a mason and was married with three children. Socrates was also a philosopher but there is debate on whether he did or didn’t receive payment from teaching students. Socrates was considered poor by Greek standards and showed little or no interest in his own children. He was devoted to philosophizing with other boys of Athens. By all accounts, there are no writings by Socrates so information about him and his life is garnered by the writings of some his famous students, one of which was Plato, and contemporaries such as Aristophanes. Life in Ancient Greece was volatile and there were numerous power struggles. It was during these controversial times that battles between the Tyrants and the Aristocrats were also being waged. Athens had been defeated during the Peloponnesian War and was undergoing drastic political turmoil during the time of Socrates. Liberalism and democracy was being brought to Athens largely because of Pericles. The Tyrants wanted Socrates to arrest Leon of Salamis so he could be executed and his assets seized. Socrates neither arrested Leon nor warned him of the Tyrants plan. The citizens of Athens viewed Socrates and his teachings as problematic when Socrates refused to carry out this order. The people were enthusiastic...
Words: 651 - Pages: 3
...to live with knowing that he or she ruined his or her own life with one wrong decision. Every criminal that is put to death has some family or friends they leave behind. Those close to a criminal should not have to suffer the consequences of the offender’s wrong-doing Socrates, in his conviction from the Athenian Jury, was both innocent and guilty as charged. In Plato's Five Dialogues, accounts of events ranging from just prior to Socrates entry into the courthouse up until his taste of hemlock, both points are stand for. Socrates in dealing with moral law was not guilty of the crimes he was accused of by Meletus. Socrates was only guilty as charged because his peers had concluded him as such. The laws didn't find Socrates guilty; Socrates was guilty because his jurors forced the laws. The commandment couldn't put in force itself. Socrates was accused of humiliating Athen childhood, not believing in the gods of the city and creating his own gods. Socrates aims to defend his principles to the five hundred and one person jury. Finally, the Crito, and story of Socrates' final discussion with his good friend Crito, Socrates is offered an opportunity to escape the prison and his death sentence. As is known, Socrates rejected the suggestion. It is in the Euthyphro and the Apology...
Words: 631 - Pages: 3
...9 October 2012 Socrates Obituary Assignment Don Hodges, The Athens Daily Socrates (469-399 B.C.E.) ATHENS- The city of Athens is one step closer to aspiring back to the great city we once were as the antagonist Socrates is dead. The seventy-one year old was sentenced to death by the Athenian courts days ago on charges of impiety and corruption of youth. A native of Athens, he was born the son of the stonemason Sophroniscus and Phainarete. The spouse of Xanthippe and father of three he lived a rather abusive home life. This is possibly due to another relationship in which he cared for the concubine Myrto. Initially a prosperous infantry man in the athenian army he left Athens in order to fight in the Peloponnesian War. Distinctive in war, he fought in many battles, notably the battle of Delium in 424 (B.C.E.) where he was remarkable in the field despite the loss. Socrates was an adamant citizen and believed all people should follow the law and abide by their duties to the state. He was later scrutinized by the popular assembly when he was the only person to vote against trying the Athenian commanders, who left survivors at sea, as a whole instead of individually as the law directed. After the war he sept through the cracks of society as he started to practices his own techniques of philosophy and teaching. Through personal experience and the knowledge of others he developed a method of deciphering the practical and moral understandings of life. Socrates was a prototype...
Words: 610 - Pages: 3
...My topic is on the Athenian Philosopher, Socrates. Socrates who was born in 470 B.C. to a sculptor and a midwife was sentenced to death in 399 B.C. on charges for corrupting the minds of the youth and for the teachings of other gods other than the official gods of Athens. Socrates had taught many Athenians the wisdom of philosophy and that includes his best-known student, Plato. Socrates mission was to “take the raw, unrefined ideas of his contemporaries and hammer away at their opinions, removing what was unclear or erroneous, until he gradually achieved a closer approximation to the truth.” (The Philosophical Journey, Lawhead, Pg. 18) Socrates’ method of doing philosophy of asking questions is now an important technique in education; the Socratic Method or Socratic questioning. These methods undergo seven stages that continually move toward a greater understanding of the truth. Socrates used this method to weed out the incorrect understandings and find a clearer picture of the true answer. Another skillful techniques Socrates used was the use of reduction as absurdum, which is another form of argument which means “reducing to an absurdity.” Socrates to me is an important figure in the world of philosophy because he created a form of arguments and questions that we use in our everyday lives that help us achieve a clearer picture of the truth. His methods of asking questions have opened up many doors in the field of philosophy. It has given us a way of life when it comes to...
Words: 298 - Pages: 2
...This paper will argue that during “The trial and Death of Socrates”, Socrates could have given better arguments for his defense. First it will outline the prejudices or accusations Socrates has to face during his trial. It will then show how Socrates acted as tough he wanted to lose the case and finally it will conclude explaining the arguments Socrates could have given in order to be acquitted. During the first speech (18a-19b) Socrates has to overcome two different types of prejudices: the old prejudice against Socrates set by the plays of Aristophanes and the new prejudices that included impiety charged by Meletus as well as the corruption of the youth. In fact more than once is Socrates confused for someone else. Aristophanes is responsible for latter but it is reconstructed by Meletus as including both impiety and corruption and Socrates is portrayed as a corrupt teacher .the first charge of impiety also originates with Aristophanes but Meletus confuses Socrates with the atheistic Anaxagoras when he describes Socrates as seeking to study the heavens (18a) the second charge of corruption is also in Aristophanes' Clouds but confuses Socrates with Protagoras. This led to confusion (18e) of Socrates with other sophists like Gorgias, Prodicus, and Hippias. The new prejudice against Socrates really is because of the Socratic paradox (20c-21a): “he knows nothing and only in this he claims to be wise “ this paradox aroused hatred against him (21b, 23ab), even though he...
Words: 839 - Pages: 4
...03-31-12 Socrates was accused of denying the gods and of corrupting the young. The first of these charges rested upon the fact that he supposed himself to be guided by a divine sign. The second, Xenophon tells us, was supported by a series of particular allegations: (a) that he taught his associates to despise the institutions of the state, and especially election by lot; (b) that he had numbered amongst his associates Critias and Alcibiades, the most dangerous of the representatives of the oligarchical and democratically parties respectively; (c) that be taught the young to disobey parents and guardians and to prefer his own authority to theirs. The false images of Socrates arose because people misunderstood his true activity. Socrates explains this activity by relating a story about the Delphic Oracle. The Saying of the Delphic Oracle- A friend of Socrates' went to the Oracle and asked the priestess "Who is the wisest of mortals?" and the priestess replied: "Socrates is the most wise." The Testing of the Delphic Oracle - After some hesitation, he sought to show the saying wrong by finding someone wiser than he. He began to question various people, including politicians, poets, and craftsmen.. The Truth of the Delphic Oracle - After "testing" the saying of the god, Socrates became aware of the truth of the saying that "Socrates is most wise" -- it can be expressed as follows: Socrates was most wise because he was Aware of his ignorance. In the course of Socrates' verification...
Words: 560 - Pages: 3
...Socrates Socrates was accused of many things in the Athens market. Socrates was accused of being a man who makes the worse argument into the stronger argument. A man who knows about the heavens and earth and therefore any one who believe this must not believe in the gods. Socrates was accused of being an atheist. Most of the people that followed him around his quest were inquisitive. Where as most adults would walk by Socrates with his “annoying question” the youth stopped to see what he had to say. The youth became his followers when he went out to ask questions that undermined society. Therefore, Socrates was accused of corrupting the youth. I do not believe that Socrates was guilty. For the fact that he was not responsible for the way, other people used what he said. Socrates is the seeker of self-knowledge. He poses the question, “how can I know about the world if I do not know who I’m”. Then the society says, “know thyself”. These two sayings sound alike but society has something else in mind, know thyself means that you must know your place in society. Socrates wanted people to find out who they were by themselves and not let society tell them who they were. You have to know how you think and act in certain situation to know yourself. Knowing yourself in a sense helps you in fact know the world. Socrates might have believed it takes time to know yourself rather than just saying you know who you are. Therefore, Socrates went out to find an answer to the question...
Words: 647 - Pages: 3
...dialogue of the “Crito” is one of the last works done by Plato, a student of Socrates, about Socrates’ final time in jail before he faces his sentence of death from the city of Athens. Crito is trying to persuade Socrates on why he should escape the prison he was falsely put in. throughout all of his pleas for Socrates to escape; Socrates does not fulfill Crito’s wishes. Instead he has a discussion with Crito to see if his student can put together a fully logical argument as to why he should escape. Socrates’ love of arguments is what sparks the talk. He tells Crito that if he can manage to persuade him to escape during their argument that he would do so but, if he cannot sway Socrates away from his decision of staying that he cannot would not leave and face his sentence of death. Crito attempts to persuade Socrates by telling him that he was wrongly imprisoned and his sentence was not justified. When he tells him this he says that he therefore does not need be there and it is his duty to escape from that prison. Crito is aware that Socrates knows his sentence was not right but he could still not figure out why he would not escape. Socrates then tells Crito, “When one has come to an agreement that is just with someone, should one fulfill it?” Crito agrees without any hesitation, he then knows now even though the sentencing was wrong that Socrates would carry out his agreement with the court. Socrates is a citizen of Athens and will follow the law just as everyone else in the...
Words: 692 - Pages: 3
...Philosophy 51 17/9/13 Socrates Contributions Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher, who had his views of liberty, inequalities, individualism, and freedom different from the Athenians. His views and ideas reflected through his associates’ works. Socrates did not give lectures or write books. Instead, he wandered around the market place in Athens, starting a discussion with anyone he met. Socrates made vital contributions to Western political thought that also influenced various areas of discourse and thought. Socrates was a man of great integrity: he lived an honest life in search of truth. But by pointing out the faults of some upper-class Athenians, he made enemies. The Greek authorities feared he would undermine their ability to rule. Eventually Socrates was arrested and tried for being a menace to the youth of Athens. When he was on trial for corrupting the mind of Athenians, he clarified that while they are concerned about their careers and families, they would better be concerned about the ‘welfare of the souls’. Socrates believed that one must centralized more on self-development than on other things. He strongly renewed people to expand love and friendships amongst themselves as a whole community. Humans control certain basic philosophical and this virtue is the most valuable of possessions. Socrates’ comprehension of virtue as a form of knowledge explains why he has taken...
Words: 409 - Pages: 2
...Socrates Worldview Intro Socrates was a raggedy old man that spent his time searching and looking for all of the answers to the world. The readings we started on took us to Socrates in his last days and arguing with friends if he should escape or not. We will get to look at though the worldview analysis Socrates findings of his years searching and his personal view portrayed by ones around him. Condition Bodily Attachment Socrates believes the human problem is inside us ourselves. We are all souls inhibiting bodies and Socrates states that the body is our problem. “So long as we keep to the body and our soul is contaminated with this imperfection, there is no chance of our ever attaining satisfactorily to our object, which we assert to be Truth.” (Phaedo 66b) He talks about how the body is in desire of riches, cloths, and ornaments then argues if the soul needs all those things. The body is distracting us from the truth. Socrates believes that death is the solution to all. He states, “I fancy that this (death) will help us to find out the answer to our problem. (Phaedo 64d) I agree with Socrates because I believe we have a soul as well and it continues after death. The body needs the soul as much as the soul needs the body though and because no one is positive about death and us continuing we do our part to keep the body alive as well. Misology Socrates also states that the human condition is caused by bad experiences that ruin everyone’s look on life....
Words: 1976 - Pages: 8
...Socratic Method: “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Socrates (469—399bc) Plato (427—347bc) Each of the main Platonic dialogues emphasizes one philosophical theme—for example, the nature of truth, beauty, justice, virtue, courage, piety, or friendship. The typical Platonic dialogue of the early period can be divided into three segments: In the first segment, Socrates meets a young man who claims to know something about one of the aforementioned “big” topics. Socrates flatters the young man and compliments himself on his luck at having found someone who actually knows something that he, Socrates, has been seeking for fifty years. Socrates begs the young man to impart his wisdom to him. When the young man does so, Socrates acts deeply impressed. The young man’s head begins to swell. The second segment of the dialogue begins when Socrates seems to notice some apparently minor problem with the formulation of the youth’s argument. The young man thinks that a simple cosmetic job can cover the blemish, but Socrates’ objection becomes the small thread that, when pulled, unravels the garment. The young man finds himself tangled up in contradictions and paradoxes. The third segment of the dialogue begins when both Socrates and his partner have admitted ignorance. The young man doesn’t know what “X” is (virtue, beauty, truth, etc.), and Socrates does not know either. At this point, Socrates will say to his dispairing companion something like this: “Look...
Words: 564 - Pages: 3
...Socrates was one of the greatest Greek philosophers. His work was not to propose any specific knowledge or policy: it was to show how argument, debate, and discussion could help men to understand difficult issues. Most of the issues he dealt with were only political on the surface. Underneath, they were moral questions about how life should be lived. Such is the influence of Socrates that philosophers before him are called the Presocratic philosophers. Socrates made enemies, three of whom brought charges against him. Socrates was tried for his life in 399 BC, found guilty, and put to death by drinking hemlock. The story of his trial and death is the subject of a tract by Plato which is called the Apologia. Most of what we know about Socrates comes from the works of Plato, who was his pupil. Socrates lived in the Greek city of Athens. His method of teaching was to have a dialogue with individual students. They would propose some point of view, and Socrates would question them, asking what they meant. He would pretend "I don't know anything; I'm just trying to understand what it is you are saying", or words to that effect. This is now called the Socratic method of teaching. Socrates is sometimes called the "father of Western philosophy". This is because in the discussions he uncovered some of the most basic questions in philosophy, questions which are still discussed today. Also some of the people he taught were important and successful, like Plato and Alcibiades. Socrates...
Words: 1476 - Pages: 6
...Socrates the Greek Philosopher December 14, 2014 PHI/105 In the beautiful city of Athens, Greece, there was a philosopher Socrates, and his "Socratic method," was laid on the groundwork for the Western systems of logic and philosophy. Socrates did believe that he didn't know anything, and It was because of this that the Oracle told Socrates that he was wise and that he should seek out the 'wise men' to hear what they had to say. So Socrates began to travel to different parts of Greece to question the suppose 'wise’ men to see if they really knew all the answers to life. The youth laid their eyes on Socrates since he possessed a different way of thinking and living. His unique method of questioning and insulting was believed that he was out of line, and was corrupting the youth. Socrates was willing to die for his belief and was soon sentence to death by the people of Athens. Once the political climate of Greece turned, Socrates was sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning in 399 BC. He accepted this judgment rather than fleeing into exile. It is through this that Socrates did not give up philosophy. For Socrates, he is portrayed in the early dialogues written by Plato, and he “does Philosophy” by going out into the world and talking with people. For him, Socrates wanted to talk to the supposed “wise” men and to show that they really do not know anything. As the Oracle said about Socrates, he is the wisest men in the world. In the Apology, Socrates believed that and stated...
Words: 1089 - Pages: 5
...Yunn Wong PHI 100-013 11/12/13 Met Museum Essay for Socrates I told my friends the most important thing to know about Socrates is that he is a man who never stops asking questions. It’s very annoying but we can learn a lot by focus on his style of thinking. He keeps asking question because he will never accept a fact at face value and holding it as truth. It’s actually good that he attempts to ask questions to get different perspectives and considers all approaches. Then I provided them with the examples from “The Republic Book I”. In the book, Socrates wants to find the definition for justice and the just life. He first test the definition with Cephalus to see if that’s a satisfy definition, if not, he will have to keep question until he gets the right definition. Cephalus’s definition of just is that as long as we always tell the truth and always pay back what is owed, we are doing the right thing. Socrates then asks if your definition is right, what if a friend of yours asks you to hold on to a weapon for him and then comes back one day in a state of rage asks for it back, will you give him the weapon back? Cephalus then realizes that can’t be the right definition. Then he continues on testing the definition with Polemarchus but Socrates, in his way of thinking, always questions against Polemarchus. Meanwhile, Thrasymachus can’t stand Socrates and accuses that Socrates never gives his own definition of justice but keep questioning others. Thrasymachus’s definition...
Words: 821 - Pages: 4
...Socrates & Plato Socrates and Plato are to be considered the modern fathers of philosophy. Their ideas of what philosophy is allowed the movement of other philosophers for many generations until it reached what we call modern time now. Even though some philosopher from younger generations don’t believe at all what Socrates and Plato taught they will still go to the roots of philosophy from which Socrates and Plato first came up with. Such things as Epistemic Humility, The Allegory of the Cave, the realm of forms, knowledge vs. opinion, and the levels of awareness. These two main philosophers’ contributions to philosophy were a new method of approaching knowledge, a new way of thinking. Socrates’ method, called dialectic, consisted in examining statements by pursuing their implications, on the assumption that if a statement were true it could not lead to false consequences. 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. Socrates also believed in Epistemic Humility which is I know that I do not know, meaning if one is to understand...
Words: 775 - Pages: 4
