Out of the three quotes, Socrates quote, best outlines my philosophy. In the words of Socrates, “An individual must do what his city or country demands of him or he must change their view of what is just.” This quote is basically saying that we have to follow what the majority of society believes, or change the view of society to what our definition of “just” is. Slavery is a great example because at one point it was accepted by the majority of society. Then much of society started to rebel against the idea, and realized that owning another human being was wrong.
In Plato's Gorgias, it is apparent that Socrates has no desire to be a good statesman as it is defined in the eyes of the Athenians. His calculation is that Athenian rhetoricians place no reliance on facts or truth, nor are these their aim. Instead, they rely on the illusion of knowledge, and this morally weakens both themselves and their audiences. It is clear however, that if he wishes, Socrates is able to match most or all of the other statesmen in Athens, as is clearly indicated by his very eloquent speech which ends the dialogue. Additionally, under his own definition of a good statesman, it is evident that Socrates is more than qualified.
Socrates was a man that was in search of the truth about wisdom. However, it became more then just a search when it brought him to trail of accusations. As a philosopher Socrates was known to overdrawn ideas and to frustrate anyone he was talking to. He is always in search of a better idea and for anyone who has experienced Socrates could assume he is making up his own actualities. This becomes evident in “ Apology” written by Plato, where Socrates was brought in charges for corrupting the minds of the youth and not believing in the Gods.
Socrates was a man with much influence, he was very intelligent and possesed great wisdom. Everyone would follow and believe his words because of it.
Socrates started his life as an average Athen citizen. His parents worked, making an honest living. But as Socrates grew up, he began to realize that his mind questioned things and wondered how come no one else questioned the same things or at least think about the answers to the questions that were not answered. So, as his mind kept wandering, he began to acknowledge the questions that were not answered and sought for those answers. He ended up believing and teaching things to other people, whether it went against the way the Athen government or not, he still continued his work.
The existence and continual study of Socrates’ philosophy regardless of differing accounts is astonishing in itself since it survived not through the specific philosopher, but through other people. Which is a testament of the impact that a man, such as Socrates, can make. When we think of Plato, who is regarded as a father of western philosophy, we are quick to think of his major work The Republic, his student Aristotle, and his writing on Socrates. (We think of his writings on Socrates as mere footnotes in philosophical thought without examining them.) “Nothing comes from nothing,” Parmenides proudly claimed, and this philosophical doctrine applies to Plato’s thought.
Our bodies harbor within themselves a city that resembles the just Polis that Socrates creates. Each of the three groups within this polis correlates to one of the three distinct parts of our soul. Our wisdom and logic parallels the guardians, the minority who calculatedly rules over the polis. Our desires compare with the ruled mass of society, being the largest in size but subversive to the wise minority. This leaves only one class of citizens, the auxiliaries.
Socrates is quoted as stating, “An unexamined life is a life not worth living” (38 a). Socrates was a founding figure of western philosophy, and a stable for many ideas. He lived in Athens, Greece teaching his students, like Plato, questioning politics, ethical choices, and many other things in Greek society. In the Trial and death of Socrates: Four Dialogues by Plato, it explores the abstract questioning Socrates had towards many of the normal social properties, which led to his trial, resulting in his death. The most important aspects discussed in the dialogues is the questioning of what is pious and impious, what it means to be wise, and good life.
Socrates always had conversations or arguments about wisdom and knowledge. He believed that self-examination was the one to help people improve their lives. Socrates believed that “The unexamined life is not worth living”. (pg. 62) He felt that people made immoral decisions because they did not have the knowledge.
I do agree that Socrates is the father of western philosophy because he spoke openly to young Athenians and his students, most notably Plato, who would ultimately spread the ideas of Socrates throughout
Today virtually every child grows up learning that the Earth orbits the Sun, but four centuries ago the heliocentric solar system, where the Earth orbits the Sun, was so controversial that the Catholic Church classified it as a crime of heresy (UCLA). In the age of early philosophy, Socrates’ is well known. Between the Socratic method and his line of successful students, Socrates’ makes the history books. Galileo Galilei turned astronomers on their heads when he discovered moons around Jupiter. Giordano Bruno didn’t back down from any of his brilliant and different ideas.
Vyrypaeva Veronika Group 1 Essay To what extent could Plato’s Republic be or not be justifiably characterized as a closed and authoritarian society without freedom? Plato is one of the most influential and well-known philosophers of all times. Although he lived in the 4th century B.C., Plato tried to find solutions to many problems we are facing even today. I am going to analyze his Utopia as an idea of the ideal state with its own laws and principles.
I found the story of Socrates trial, on pages 43-46, to be incredible. I always knew that history was full of surprises and amazing events. However, I had no idea that Athens had such a robust debate environment at 399 B.C.E. It seems like Athens was dealing with the same kind of political corruption that we, in modern society, must face in our politics today. It really proves the saying, “history repeats itself.”
“The arduous things that ought to be shunned for themselves but pursued for profit and a reputation based on appearance. ” Socrates was an extremely smart man to be able to predict how the world would turn out in thousands of years. This quote from Republic defines what it really means to be a modern day American. These ideas just go to further reinforce the fact that the work of Plato and mainly republic, serve as the centrum of modern western philosophy.
Background Socrates was born in Athens, Greece in 470BC. He was a classical Greek philosopher who had many different beliefs. These beliefs brought about different opinions and produced numerous amounts of debates and discussions. As he didn’t come from a wealthy family, Socrates had to prove himself and work hard to achieve success. Before he became a philosopher, he was mason, just like his father.
