Socrates (470 BCE to 399 BCE)

• A Greek philosopher from Athens who is credited as the founder of Western philosophy and as among the first moral philosophers of the ethical tradition of thought.

• An enigmatic figure, Socrates authored no texts and is known mainly through the posthumous accounts of classical writers, particularly his students Plato and Xenophon. These accounts are written as dialogues, in which Socrates and his interlocutors examine a subject in the style of question and answer; they gave rise to the Socratic dialogue literary genre.

• Contradictory accounts of Socrates make a reconstruction of his philosophy nearly impossible, a situation known as the Socratic problem.

• In 399 BC, he was accused of impiety and corrupting the youth. After a trial that lasted a day, he was sentenced to death. He spent his last day in prison, refusing offers to help him escape.

• Socrates believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the greater well-being of society. He attempted to establish an ethical system based on human reason rather than theological doctrine.

• Socrates pointed out that human choice was motivated by the desire for happiness. Ultimate wisdom comes from knowing oneself. The more a person knows, the greater his or her ability to reason and make choices that will bring true happiness.

• Socrates believed that this translated into politics with the best form of government being neither a tyranny nor a democracy. Instead, government worked best when ruled by individuals who had the greatest ability, knowledge and virtue, and possessed a complete understanding of themselves.

• He asked questions of his fellow Athenians in a dialectic method — the Socratic Method — which compelled the audience to think through a problem to a logical conclusion. Sometimes the answer seemed so obvious, it made Socrates' opponents look foolish. For this, his Socratic Method was admired by some and vilified by others.

• Socrates hated democracy. Imagine you are about to embark on a sea voyage. It will be a long journey, the seas could be stormy, and the trip is dangerous. Who would you want making decisions — the mob of people on board, or the captain with training? Although many view democracy as an ideal form of government because it gives citizens a say — whether through their own actions or those that they elected — Socrates believed that this wasn’t as good as it appeared. Using a case similar to the ship story, he argued that voting — either directly or for representatives —  requires a skill and wisdom that not everyone has, and giving those people without the skill the ability to vote could lead to the equivalent of societal shipwreck. Democracy is basically mob rule.

​

Quotes by Socrates:

• I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

• An unexamined life is not worth living.

• I cannot teach anybody anything. I can only make them think.

• There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.
• It is not living that matters, but living rightly.
• Contentment is natural wealth; luxury is artificial poverty.
• Understanding a question is half an answer.
• Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.
• Do not be angry with me if I tell you the truth.
• ​Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.
• By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one, you’ll become a philosopher.
• Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.

​

Key Takeaways From Socrates:

Ask Questions

• Socrates loved to ask questions and discover the truth. He asked questions to himself, and to others. He engaged in dialogue a lot.

Think Critically

• Be skeptical. Don’t take anything for granted.

• Socrates asked his students to think for themselves and avoid blindly accepting ideas.

Care For Others

• Be generous with your time and presence

• Socrates was a teacher who loved sharing with others. He talked about philosophy, wisdom, justice, courage, and what made life worth living.

Don’t take life and yourself too seriously

• Socrates was indeed known for his wit and irony. For example, he used humor before his execution.

Be Authentic

• Don’t pretend to be who you’re not. Don’t pretend to know things you don’t. Don’t show off. Live with integrity and don’t be scared to say “I don’t know.”​​

 

 

​