Socrates One of the Most Important Figures in Western...

Socrates was one of the most influential thinkers in the West, even though he left no writings of himself, it was possible to reconstruct an accurate account of his life from the writings of his Greek students because he always engaged them. He was a man with a very strong conviction because he lived his life for the pursuit of knowledge, true wisdom, God’s will, and piety. Though he never wrote anything, his soul source of knowledge about him came from one of his students, Plato. Socrates was born in 469 B.C. in a village on the slopes of Mount Lycabettus, where his father was a sculptor and his mother a midwife. He soon became an apprentice and aid to his father and he continued it throughout a brief period of time until he†¦show more content†¦Aristophanes comedy â€Å"Clouds† had several passages about Socrates, they found him as the protagonist and his portrayal was very consistent as if Aristophanes never changed his mind about him. The play Clouds was pe rformed in Athens and it was one of the earliest noticed works about Socrates in 423 BCE. Socrates has been the subject of three comedies and though the comedy Clouds has been in questioned whether or not it was accurate or even justified within the liberal parameters of Athenian comedy. Clouds was about facing with legal action for non-payment debts that soon enrolled his son in the â€Å"thinkeria†, where he learns fighting skills and later on beats his father up during an argument. â€Å"Whatever Aristophanes’ motive could have been, the effect was the same. Socrates was ridiculed and exposed before the audience as a dangerous fool, and the persistence and magnitude of this effect can be appreciated by considering once more what the Plantonic Socrates says about Aristophanes in the Apology.† (Navia 50-51). Some contributions that Socrates made were traveling teachers who charged fees for educating young men and finding the scientific method.† He demonstrated that wrong doing results from ignorance and if a man lies, Socrates might have said, he does soShow MoreRelatedGreek And Classical Greek Philosophy997 Words   |  4 Pages Classical Greek Philosophy A philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, esp. when considered as an academic discipline. Greece was divided into several city-states, which ran separately and independent from each other. However, they shared commonalities, such as common ancestry, language, and festivals. Foreigners were all considered barbarians to the Greek. Greek Culture is reflected in today s Society in many ways. These ways include mathematicsRead MoreGreek Philosophy And The Greek Creation1593 Words   |  7 Pages The word â€Å"philosophy†, comes from the Ancient Greek word (Phileo), meaning â€Å"to love† or â€Å"to befriend† and (Sophia), meaning â€Å"wisdom†; making philosophy stand for â€Å"the love of wisdom†. Philosophy is about understanding the fundamental truths about ourselves, the world in which we live in, and our relationships to the world and amongst each other. It is the study of general problems connected with existence, values, language, and mind. Those who study philosophy (philosophers), engage in askingRead MoreThe Complicated Life of Socrates1183 Words   |  5 PagesSocrates was a classical Greek philosopher that was born in Athens, Greece around 470/469 BC. He served in the Athenian army and fought in many battles. When Socrates retired from fighting in the army, he began focusing on expressing his beliefs. He wasn’t the typical â€Å"teacher† or â€Å"preacher†; he was a very critical and analytical thinker that helped guide his students and the Athenians during his time. Through his teachings and beliefs, Socrates had positive and negative influence on the people duringRead MoreMr.Jlgibson1096 Words   |  5 Pages 09Sept14 To: Intro to Philosophy. Essay 1 What am I doing in this class? And how if at all. Do I think studying philosophy might benefit me. An introduction to Western Philosophy by Donald Palmer. I will attempt to answer three basic questions with this essay. What is Philosophy, What are the origins of Philosophy and why am I studying Philosophy today. Therefore my main reason for studying philosophy is to expand my knowledge and liveRead MoreSocrates1461 Words   |  6 PagesSocrates was one of the greatest Greek philosophers. His work was not to propose any specific knowledge or policy: it was to show how argument, debate, and discussion could help men to understand difficult issues. Most of the issues he dealt with were only political on the surface. Underneath, they were moral questions about how life should be lived. Such is the influence of Socrates that philosophers before him are called the Presocratic philosophers. Socrates made enemies, three of whom broughtRead MoreThe Basic Principle Of Inquiry1195 Words   |  5 Pagesbeginnings of philosophy were somewhat elementary, but complexity has built as history advances. Philosophy is loosely organized into 2 fields, Western and Eastern. Western philosophy is associated with Ancient Greek, Roman, Western Europe, and later on, the Americas’ process of thought. Being that we are predominantly influenced by this field of philosophy (due to our location) it is essential that we must understand the beginnings and the evolution of this ideology. Western philosophy has developedRead MoreEssay on Greek Philosophy673 Words   |  3 PagesGreek Philosophy Philosophy, the use of reason and argument in seeking truth and knowledge of reality. Throughout history man has searched for the origins of his existence, both on an outward and inward level, seeking truth and understanding of his world. The first culture to actively explore this idea of philosophy was the Greeks. Because their civilization placed less emphasis on religion and the masses didnt have to constantly answer to religious figures man had time to explore other thingsRead MoreThe Socratic Problem Of Socrates1462 Words   |  6 PagesSocrates was born in 469 B.C.E., in Athens, Greece. He was a loyal citizen of Athens who also served as a soldier as required for Athens males. His philosophy, or as it was called, his Socratic Method, laid the stones for what became to be known as Western philosophy. However, Socrates remains one of the most powerful, yet misunderstood and enigmatic figures of philosophy. What is known about Socrates comes from writings of other philosophers, such as his follower Plato, and Plato’s student, AristotleRead MoreWhat Is Philosophy According to Socrates Essay970 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is philosophy according to Socrates? Philosophy is an academic subject that exercises reason and logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer fundamental questions about knowledge, life, morality, virtue, and human nature. The original word for philosophy comes from the ancient Greek word philosopha, which means love of wisdom. Although Socrates himself never claimed to have any answers to the questions he raised, his views and methods of philosophy became the foundations of whatRead MorePhilosophy Is The Idea Of Knowing One s Mind By Asking The Simplest Question1494 Words   |  6 PagesPhilosophy is the idea of knowing one’s mind by asking the simplest questions. It’s a love of wisdom, which originated in Ancient Greece around 2500 BCE. In philosophy, people undertake a journey to discovering and understanding the fundamental truths about; themselves, the world, and relationships both personal and public. Philosophers like Plato believed that our ideas influence the way we live, and therefo re offered a simple yet practical approach to wisdom. As over time, philosophers have