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Socrates
Socrates was a Greek, enigmatic philosopher who was famous for his contribution in ethics. He was Plato and Xenophon’s mentor and was acknowledged as one of the founders of Western philosophy.
1,381 Questions
Why do you think so Athenians found the ideas of Socrates so disturbing?
Socrates said that his teachings were good for Athens because they forced people to think about their values and actions. The jury disagreed and condemned him to death. He died by hemlock, a slow-acting poison.
How did Socrates action reflect this belief?
Socrates' belief was that it was important to question everything and seek knowledge. His actions reflected this belief by engaging in conversations and debates with others in order to challenge their beliefs and encourage critical thinking. He also famously chose to face death rather than compromise his convictions, showing his commitment to his principles.
What points are Plato and apollodorus trying to make about Socrates?
Plato and Apollodorus portray Socrates as a principled philosopher who values pursuing truth and wisdom through dialogue and inquiry. They emphasize Socrates' commitment to self-examination, moral integrity, and intellectual humility, highlighting his role as a thought-provoking figure who challenges conventional beliefs and encourages critical thinking.
Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher known for his contributions to the field of ethics and philosophy, and for his method of questioning to stimulate critical thinking. Crito was one of Socrates' friends and a character in Plato's dialogue "Crito," which discusses Socrates' refusal to escape from prison and his commitment to abiding by the laws of Athens.
Who wrote play called the clouds that made fun of the philosopher Socrates?
The play "Clouds" that made fun of the philosopher Socrates was written by the ancient Greek playwright Aristophanes. In the play, Socrates is portrayed as a sophist who teaches absurd theories to his students, mocking his unconventional philosophical ideas.
What did the oracle at Delphi make about Socrates?
The Oracle at Delphi declared that Socrates was the wisest of all men. This declaration puzzled Socrates as he believed he knew very little. Socrates spent his life pursuing wisdom through questioning and self-examination.
How did Socrates get into trouble with the Athenian authorities?
Socrates got into trouble with the Athenian authorities for corrupting the youth and impiety, as he was challenging traditional beliefs and questioning the authority of the gods. His teachings were seen as a threat to the stability of Athenian society and he was ultimately sentenced to death.
Did Socrates believe justice was necessary for happiness?
Yes, Socrates believed that justice was necessary for happiness. He argued that living a just life leads to inner harmony and moral well-being, which ultimately results in true happiness and fulfillment of the soul.
How did Socrates communicate his ideas since he never wrote any books?
Socrates communicated his ideas through conversations and dialogues with his students and other Athenians in the marketplace and other public places. His method, known as the Socratic method, involved asking probing questions to stimulate critical thinking and self-examination. His ideas were later recorded by his student Plato and others.
Why does Socrates want to become Euthyphros student?
Socrates wants to become Euthyphro's student because he admires Euthyphro's knowledge and expertise in matters of religion and ethics. Socrates hopes to learn from Euthyphro and engage in philosophical discussions to deepen his own understanding of morality and piety.
When Socrates asks an audience to believe an obvious argument hat can be supported by facts he is?
employing the Socratic method, which involves using a series of questions and answers to stimulate critical thinking and illuminate ideas. By urging the audience to accept a logical argument supported by evidence, Socrates encourages them to think for themselves and arrive at their own conclusions.
Did Socrates develop the laws of associationism?
No, Socrates did not develop the laws of associationism. Associationism is a psychological theory developed by philosophers such as Aristotle, John Locke, and David Hume, which posits that mental processes are formed through associations between ideas or sensations.
In the last days of socrates Why does Socrates want to become Euthyphros student?
Socrates wants to become Euthyphro's student to gain a deeper understanding of piety. He believes that by studying under Euthyphro, he can learn more about the nature of holiness and develop his own philosophical arguments on the topic.
"Nature" here means ways of classifying things.
For example, questions philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates might ask are:
- Is this a person or thing? Is this person-thing living or not living?
- What makes something be living?
- Is a tree a living item or not? If a tree is living, is the leaf on the ground that came from the tree also living when separated from the tree? What is the nature of the tree and its leaf?
- If a tree is living, and we cut it down and make a table of it, what is the nature of this table? If it came from living matter, is the table's wood still living matter?
Great Philosophers began to study Nature (here, meaning, woodlands, trees, leaves, plants) and try to classify things, not only based on type, size, shape, but to explore with their thinking just what defines humans as humans, animals as animals, nature (the scenery around us) as nature, and objects as things.
They began to explore the "nature of...." (everything). What is IT? If IT is described as A, B, C, D, then what about this other IT that seems different from the first IT we studied? What makes a living tree and attached leaves be the same but also different from a felled tree on the ground on top of leaf litter that fell in autumn? These ideas were the beginnings of recognizing the smallest pieces of life: molecules and atoms.
They also studied abstract concepts, things they could see but that needed defined. For example: motion. They saw the wind blow the leaf-- is the wind also a living being? How is something moved, when is it moved, how is it moved? These ponderings helped construct the beginnings of the subject of physics.
The nature of something is classifying it not only by what we see but how it (or a person) functions and behaves, thinks and feels, does (and does not do). The leaf "dances" on the wind as if a living entity, yet it differs from a living human being who also twirls and dances as if he or she is the leaf carried upon the wind!
The levels of classifying humans or things can be as endless as the human or object we are studying, depending how far "in" to the item or person we're studying. As 2 examples, you could classify a person by:
- Living, human, female, mature (of an age to reproduce), age of (number), married or single (or widow); then you could classify her by what she does (her task functions) like bears children, takes care of children, cooks, cleans, washes clothing, makes things (baskets and tools), then you could classify her by how she seems, like freely shows emotions, cries more than "a living human male", etc.; in today's societies, you could classify her by her jobs or occupation(s) or career(s); the list can go on and on... OR
- Living, tree, young (sapling), short, thin, wiry stalk, easily bendable, easily snapped under force, shallow root system, soft green pine needles (not leaves), seeds easily scattered; many of its kind grow in certain types of soil often near a large pine tree; functions--no shade; it gives no wood at this stage; its seeds can survive fire and grow the next season; when does it grow? where does it grow? what does it give to animals and humans? Etc.
The "nature of something" also contains some mysteries, the things we ASK ourselves about, but do not yet know the answers!
How Socrates became a philosopher?
Socrates became a philosopher through his desire to seek knowledge and understanding of truth and virtue. He engaged in conversations with fellow Athenians, often questioning their beliefs and assumptions, which led him to develop his own philosophy centered around the pursuit of wisdom and the importance of self-examination.
Did Socrates and Plato ever meet?
Yes, Socrates and Plato knew each other as Plato was a student of Socrates. Plato documented many of Socrates' ideas and teachings in his dialogues.
Socrates was successful in philosophy and teaching by pioneering the Socratic method of questioning and engaging his students in critical thinking. His influence extended to many famous philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, who further developed his ideas. Socrates' legacy continues to shape Western philosophy and education.
Why didn't socrates choose exile?
Socrates believed that choosing exile would be an admission of guilt, which would go against his principles of living a just life based on truth and integrity. He feared that leaving Athens would mean abandoning his duty to challenge and educate the citizens, even if it meant facing death for his beliefs.
Why do you think leaders in Athens were so threatened by socrates' teaching?
Leaders in Athens were threatened by Socrates' teachings because he encouraged critical thinking, questioned traditional beliefs, and challenged the authority of political leaders. His influence was seen as potentially destabilizing to the existing power structures in Athens. Additionally, his method of questioning and challenging others made him unpopular among some influential figures in the city.
Who was the friend of Socrates?
One of Socrates' most notable friends was Plato, who was a philosopher and writer known for documenting many of Socrates' teachings in his dialogues. Another friend of Socrates was Xenophon, a historian and philosopher who also wrote about Socrates' life and ideas.
What did the sophists and socrates disagree about?
Sophists believed that truth and morality were relative and could be manipulated through persuasive speech, while Socrates believed in absolute truths and that moral values were objective and existed independently of human perception. They also disagreed on the role of education, with sophists focusing on teaching rhetoric and persuasion skills for personal gain, while Socrates emphasized self-knowledge and pursuing virtue for the betterment of one's soul.
What were some of the topics that interested Socrates and other philosophers?
Socrates and other philosophers were interested in topics such as ethics, justice, knowledge, truth, the nature of reality, the purpose of life, and the existence of the soul. They often engaged in dialogues and debates to explore these subjects and deepen their understanding of them.
How did the Socrates teach what is this method of teaching called?
Socrates taught by engaging his students in dialogue and questioning to help them discover knowledge for themselves. This teaching method is called the Socratic method, which involves critical thinking, questioning assumptions, and seeking truth through open discussion. It emphasizes active participation and encourages students to think independently.
What student of Socrates who wrote the Republic?
Plato was a student of Socrates who wrote the Republic, a dialogue exploring the nature of justice, government, and the ideal state.
Is it socrates that there are absolute standards for truth and justice?
Socrates believed in the existence of absolute standards for truth and justice, which he thought could be discovered through philosophical inquiry and rational dialogue. He argued that there are universal concepts of truth and justice that are not dependent on individual beliefs or societal norms, but rather reflect objective forms of knowledge and virtue.
