Socrates was an Athenian philosopher; he was known to be the founder of Western philosophy. He is known from the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon. We have come to know through Plato’s writing about the contributions of Socrates in the field of ethics. He became famous because of his work related to ethics. Socrates has also worked in the field of epistemology. He has made long lasting and essential contributions in this field. The direction of his ideas and the way remains a strong basis for the western political thought of today.
Plato’s Political thought: Plato helped build areas of philosophy that are epistemology, metaphysics, ethics and aesthetics. He affected and changed the western political thought deeply
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Both had something to do with Athenian politics. So he was bound to be involved in it himself as well. Plato was not a supporter of any of the political parties at that time as they were not just. He found himself continuingly opposing it instead of playing an active role in the politics. He was a follower of Socrates and he supported him as he was the most honest and virtuous in his time. Socrates had a very huge effect on philosophy although he did not leave any written form of his work that he had done. His work was totally on politics and moral issues. Socrates was executed by the vote of majority in court and the hearing was unjust. This lead to Plato’s believe in that the politics was bad and hopeless. It could not be recovered. This discouraged Plato and he went back to Athens. He set up his academy to implement his ideas that resulted in succeeding generations. His students later became mentors, leaders and constitutional advisors in Greek state. He worked hard and in his lifetime Athens was not the place with just the military people anymore, it became a place for intellectuals and …show more content…
The next thing that has to be considered is the evaluation of believes. It has to be sorted out that which idea is right and which one is incorrect. It has to be seen which decisions are correct for the political thought. According to Plato the most important choice of politics is between peace and war. This is a huge decision that cannot be left only on the citizens or the public. Public opinion is important but they don’t have enough insight to take these decisions and the state learns its lessons from the disasters it has to face which history tells us later. So in order to get proper ideas and in order to make good decisions insight is needed which can be taken through the clarification of concepts. Once the concept is clear, the believes will be clearer automatically. This will lead to a better understanding of the political order. Plato’s Republic is a huge example of the best political order.
Plato, Socrates and state: Plato has told in the Apology of Socrates that he was a loyal follower of Socrates. Plato gives a theory taken from the words of Socrates according to Plato, that the class society is divided is castes.
• Productive - This is the working class that is divided in to people like carpenters, farmers, plumbers, merchants, laborers etc. These are known as the ‘appetite’ part of the
The Athenian government was intimidated and frightened by the thought that Socrates could overthrow their way of religion and governing style that has been practiced for years. After Athens was conquered by Sparta, only sixteen years ago, and the government became democratic. Socrates was against this form of government along with the other Athenians who questioned the government also.
His contribution of ideas has helped the human race improve their methods of government
He sought to incorporate more democratic institutions in Athens, doing away with the old oligarchy system. 3. He was a military general during several of Athens wars, including the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. His leadership allowed for Athens to pursue the arts and allowing for free-thought.
He didn’t agree with the other sophists based on controlling and making people believe the wrong thing. He gave us some of his works and wanted people to have an understanding of true rhetoric. He did believe the truth could not be found. Plato was discussing truth and has resemblances with Socrates. Next is Aristotle is the goalie on the Greek soccer team because he is the last for that time period in order.
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 was a great philosopher of the Greek world. He was quite an atypical and distinctive person. Being different from all the other philosophers of the land, Socrates was teaching his students ideas totally out of the ordinary from what the society believed was right. As a result, he displeased many people so much that they decided to get rid of him. Socrates was put to trial, accused of spoiling the youth of Athens, tried and sentenced to death.
“Plato Apology” relates the trial of Socrates (469-399) B.C.E known as the father of Western Philosophy. Socrates, a son of sculpture and the midwife had a queer with most Athenians due to his point of view on values and beliefs. Charged with impiety and corrupting the Youth, Socrates’ defends himself by persuading the jury of his innocence with tangible reasons which made his arguments effective.
Making enemies and becoming the topic of conversation, the Athenians began to view Socrates as a threat to their beliefs and way of life and sought to end it. In order to end this, Socrates was accused of blasphemy (Mod1SlideC7). Socrates’s accusers took him to court and after Socrates did not play their game by asking to be sent into exile, and in the end, he was sentenced to death. After reading the textbook and Plato’s writing influenced by Socrates, I realized that in the period of his life Socrates was indeed truly a threat to the Athens society, because he looked for answers that no one else bothered to find which challenged their culture.
I believe that Aristotle’s ideas are more significant as they closer to western beliefs than Plato’s. Similarities can be found in religion, art, government, and evolution. Unlike Plato, Aristotle believed in the idea of a god, much like many people today. He believed that God was the First thing to exist, separate from all matter and is the ultimate form. As well as is a pure minded being.
According to Socrates perspective, the democracy of Athens was corrupt and even though they courts were made in such a way that everyone was judged fairly, it wasn’t such because there were no rules or principles set forth. When a person was brought to court in the Athenian court and the person spoke against the jurors or offended them, he or she could be prosecuted based on that. In summary, judgment was passed based on emotion rather than on justice. In the Apology, Socrates stated, “my present request seems a just one, for you to pay no attention to my manner of speech-
By questioning the system itself and the people who make it up, Socrates introduced a new way of thinking, which we refer to as the Socratic method. Following his death, various branches of philosophy sprang from his absence. Prior to him, the main questions that philosophy dealt with were things like metaphysics and epistemology. After Socrates, the branch that we call ethics began to prosper and evolve. “The Apology” is still taught today because it serves as a basis for one to start to understand themselves as well as highlighting the need to question one’s
Everyone has a perspective of their own about the government whether it be good or bad. Ancient Greek philosopher Plato and English philosopher John Locke both discuss the topic of government in their literatures. In the Republic by Plato, Plato introduces this concept of a just city. In this city, he believes that the older and wisest person(s) should rule as they are very knowledgeable. Everyone is born innately different according to Plato.
This ideology will be addressed in the essay with substantiated reasons on why Plato thought that philosophers should rule. 1.1 DEFINITIONS OF KEY TERMS 2 PLATO BIOGRAPHY Plato was born around the year 428 BCE in Athens. Plato 's birth name was Aristocles, and he gained the nickname Platon, meaning broad, because of his broad build. His family had a history in politics, and Plato was destined to a life in keeping with this history. He studied at a gymnasium owned by Dionysios, and at the palaistra of Ariston of Argos.
Was Plato a Feminist? Plato was one of the only few philosophers from the ancient Greeks who believes the modern feminists’ view of men and women being equal in the society. Throughout the history, many people consider him as “the first feminist” and use his writings and dialogues as the support for the feminist movement. Plato asserts his belief in Book V of the Republic that jobs and responsibilities should be distributed by the person’s nature instead of neither the gender nor the appearance in an ideal state. The main argument of his belief is very similar to what feminist movements are proposing, which that the gender and biological differences should not determine the role of women in the society.
In the Republic Plato, speaking through his teacher Socrates, sets out to