Socrates
Socrates is a noteworthy and important
historical figure as a philosopher,
because of his and his pupils’ influence
on the development of the
philosophical world. His teachings, famous
arguments, and ideas began the
outgrowth of all later western philosophies.
Born in 469 BC just outside of
Athens, Socrates was brought up properly,
and thoroughly educated. He was raised
as most Athenians; developing both
physical and mental strengths. Socrates then
went on to learn from Archelaus
the philosopher. Here he studied astronomy,
mathematics, and was introduced
to philosophy, which was a new concept at the
time. Archelaus taught of
explanations for the world with a scientific approach.
Socrates, however,
turned away from this idea and created his own. He decided
that instead of
trying to understand the universe, a person should try to
understand himself.
To express his philosophy, Socrates spent his days in the
marketplace of
Athens, telling people of his ideas. His voice was heard, and he
was soon
declared to be the wisest of all men. Socrates’ was skilled in the
art of
arguing. He developed a method by which he would win every debate.
His
favorite hobby was going to the marketplace and debating philosophical
issues
with other men in front of an audience. The result of these debates
was that
Socrates embarrassed the wise men in front of the crowd. This
caused many to
dislike him. After being named the wisest man, Socrates
attempted to prove that
this was not true. He debated with many men in the
streets. These debates are
some of his most famous argument methods. He
started the discussion by stating
that he knew nothing. As a result of the
debate, he was able to prove that
although his opponents claimed that they
were wise, they knew nothing either.
Socrates concluded that he really
was the wisest man because unlike the others,
he knew that he knew nothing.
Socrates had many ideas and philosophies
concerning issues other than the
knowledge of oneself. These included
explanations of the universe, the belief
in god, and life’s goals. Other,
earlier philosophers, had many different
interpretation for the makeup of the
world. Some believed that it was made
out of numbers, others thought that it was
made of a single substance, or
many different substances, while still
conflicting philosophers theorized
that everything was formed out of atoms, and
even illusions. Socrates had his
own, different ideas. He believed that the
world was made of forms that are
not within the reach of our senses, but only of
our thoughts. This means, for
example, that when we think of characteristics
such as roundness, we only
picture ideas of it like a ball or a wheel.
Therefore, he assumed that we
only understand specific things that participate
in our lives. In his search
for the inner truth of oneself, Socrates theorized
the explanation to the
question of what the goals of life are. He concluded that
everyone tries to
find the meaning of happiness and goodness in their existence.
This is
the purpose of life. However, true happiness comes in many forms and
is
disguised in a way that people spend their lives looking for goodness,
but
finding only the evil in which it is concealed. The only way to discover
true
happiness, goodness, and the right way, is to fully understand oneself.
Socrates
did not believe in the Greek gods or religion. He had his personal
view of god.
Socrates felt that there must be some form of divine power
because everyone
seemed to believe in some kind of god and religion. He also
believed in a sort
of immortality. He hypothesized that there was an
afterlife. His explanation for
it was that people who had achieved goodness
in their lives knew where they were
going afterwards, and that evil people
tried to ignore the fact that immortality
existed. He preached that the soul
was a person’s true being, and that our
goodness in life reflected on the
goodness of our souls. According to Socrates,
each individual should try to
make his soul as moral as possible so that it can
be like god, which will
allow the achievement of an afterlife. Debating in the
marketplace of Athens
was not Socrates’ only daily activity. He also taught
his philosophies to a
group of students in a small classroom. These students
were much like
disciples. They respected and followed in the philosophies of
their teacher.
Socrates’ most famous pupil, Plato, went on to become a great
philosopher
like his mentor. Socrates lived through and fought in the
Peloponnesian
War. After Athens’ defeat, the democracy was replaced by a
tyranny. This did
not bother Socrates much because his belief in government was
a rather simple
and apathetic one. He thought that no matter what kind of
government
subsists; it should be followed solely because a form of law and
order must
exist in a society to control it. One of the tyranny’s leaders was
a former
pupil of Socrates and hated his teacher. He tried to make life harder
for
Socrates by banning the teaching of philosophy in the streets.
Socrates
ignored him. In response to this, the tyrant tried to kill Socrates;
but the
tyranny was overthrown right on time to prevent this. A new
democratic
government came into power, the leader of which, Anytus, also
hated Socrates
because his son, who was the philosopher’s pupil, turned away
from the
family’s business to become a philosopher. Anytus had Socrates
arrested on
charges of corrupting Athens’ young and turning them away from
Paganism, the
Greek religion involving a belief in many gods. Anytus
announced the death
penalty as a punishment for this crime. It was obviously
an outrageous sentence
for a crime that was not even committed. Socrates was
brought before a jury and
instead of using his debating skills to defend
himself, he did nothing in his
own defense because he was convinced that the
entire trial was a joke. The jury
voted on the death penalty. Now Socrates
had a chance to appeal to the court. He
was entitled to suggest forms of
punishment other than death to satisfy his
crime. Instead of proposing a
reasonable penalty, Socrates suggested ridiculous
ones which angered the
jury; causing them to vote on the death penalty once
again. Socrates did not
seem to mind at all. He was sent to prison and lived
their surrounded by his
friends and disciples for his last few days. His life
ended by drinking
hemlock as his friends cried at his bedside. Only after this
scandalous
death, did all of Greece realize what they had done; that they had
killed one
of the greatest philosophers of all time. Socrates’ life
achievements were
vast. He introduced new ideas and theories into the
philosophical world. His
pupil, Plato, went on to influence all of the western
world’s philosophical
development. Socrates began the evolution of philosophy
throughout the world.
He took the first step toward advancing modern philosophy,
as we know it. His
theories and ideas were a whole new concept that helped
progress the western
philosophy through all of later history. In conclusion,
Socrates’
historical importance is great, due to his extreme influence on the
evolution
of the world’s ideas of philosophy. Even though Socrates never made
written
records of his work, his finest and most successful pupil, Plato,
recorded
much of his teacher’s accomplishments and deeds. From these history
has
learned so much as to be able to advance and heighten its
entire
philosophical viewpoints; and until this day, learn from the
ancient
philosopher, Socrates. INTERVEIW WITH A PHILOSOPHER: Mark – Socrates,
you were
raised and educated in many different fields, why did you decide to
spend your
life as a philosopher? Socrates – It is true that I have been
educated in the
arts, literature, and gymnastics as a youth; but in my
continuing education as
you may already know, I was taught by Anaxagoras, the
famous early philosopher.
His theories were not ones with which I would
agree; such as those stating that
all things were made of tiny substances
which contained a little of everything,
that the sun was a hot rock, and that
the moon was made of earth. For these
teachings, he was banished from Athens.
Nevertheless, he was a good teacher and
allowed me to realize that my
philosophies were going to be antiscientific and
quite different from his. My
following philosophical teacher was Archelaus, with
whom I studied
mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy. I knew that my opinions
and theories
were strong, I had performing and arguing skills, and my ideas
would consist
of principles rather than sciences. The simple lifestyle of the
philosopher
appeals to me. I enjoyed the unusual behaviors that I associated
myself with.
All that really interested me was the great mysteries of
philosophy, and the
questions of knowing oneself, which I devoted my life to
learning and
teaching. Mark – Your teaching was remarkable and much can be
learned from
studying it even after your death; why is that you never bothered
to record
your works for later generations? Socrates – Many have asked this
before and
for quite obvious reasons. Most other noteworthy historical figures
did keep
a record of their works ever since the invention of written language,
yet not
one of mine exists in writing. I do not exactly know the reason for
this.
Whether there are records of my work or not, does not matter. I will
forever
be remembered by my loyal pupils, the Athenian population, and the
world.
Furthermore, nothing I ever said was of too great importance. And to tell
you
the truth, I never really wanted to take the time to keep useless
records.
That nonsense did not concern me nearly as much as most of my
other problems as
a philosopher. I had to make money somehow, to support my
wife and three sons.
As you might have guessed, being a philosopher does
not exactly bring you
riches. One of the reasons I began teaching was to make
money. Also, I had to
deal with many people’s constant hatred of me, mainly
due to my victories in
debates against them. Some, with high political
positions, even wanted me dead
at points of my life. And one even succeeded.
So, you see, no matter how simple
and easy going my life may seem, there are
quite a few difficulties attached to
it. Mark – Your trial and death are
quite interesting and famous historical
events. They have been interpreted by
many and confused some; what caused you to
make such drastic and unusual
decisions, the consequence of which you knew
forehand? Socrates – This I am
aware of. As a matter of fact, some even claim
that I was mentally ill, and
blame that as the cause for my actions. This of
course I deny. The truth
includes a mixture between my philosophical beliefs and
the thoughts that
have occurred to me during my last days. I always believed
that there is an
after-life. And that must have somehow influenced my decisions.
Even
though the religious part of this came to me only afterwards. At first
many
others and I thought that this ridiculous trial was an obvious hoax. Who
would
have thought that such a crime, which I was evidently not guilty of, be
punished
by the death penalty. I fooled with the court. They on the other
hand were quite
serious about it. In the last days, I realized that there was
no way out. True I
could have argued with the court and won. I could have
escaped using the plan
devised by my dear friends. But since there was a
high-ranking leader who wanted
me dead, it was going to happen no matter
what. Furthermore, my governmental
beliefs stand true in all situations; the
law should be followed and that is
all. There was not much I was willing to
do. After some thinking, I decided to
go along with the law, after all, I had
lived a happy life. One that I was proud
of living, no matter how unusual it
may appear to others. I was an old man of
seventy. I found and understood
myself, and had achieved happiness and goodness.
There was nothing more
that I desired. I knew what was waiting for me after
death and was ready for
it.