ipl-logo

Socrates Impact On Western Civilization

798 Words4 Pages

Joy Olson; Western Civilization
Socratic Philosophy Some might ask, “How can philosophy impact our lives?”. To all, the answer would be different, but they would have one thing in common. Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence1. Thus, it is a broad topic which Socrates truly understood and loved with a passion. Although he does not have any writings, his student, Plato, does and expands on Socratic teachings and philosophy. Some might say he is the father of philosophy and he had an incredible impact on philosophers in his time and even in today's society. His teachingings were focused around discovering the truth, understanding life, and talking about the elements that make life good. Hence, Socrates did not write any documents, but there are …show more content…

Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: a Brief History. Cengage Learning, 2017.
“The Apology of Socrates.” Plato's Apology, Crito and Phaedo of Socrates, by Henry Cary and Edward Brooks, Historical Books, Limited, 2016. each person; only critical examination was needed to call it forth7. Plato ideas of Socrates teachings were published by him in the dialogue called The Republic. During this time he was asking too many questions of those in authority and that led him into trouble. He was accused of corrupting the youth of Athens with his teachings8. Philosophy is so embedded into our society it is impossible not to see it. Socrates heavily impacted how, many subjects are taught and how we view the world. It is important to realize that many methods of education and questioning were originally created by him. The concepts of knowledge, virtue, and goodness are intertwined in the philosophy of Socrates, which help us with ethics and moral dilemmas today. He taught that “virtue is knowledge”9and that to take care of the soul is to make yourself as wise as possible with knowledge. Questioning reality helps us advance in society and constantly keeps us moving

Show More
Related

Bruce Lincoln's Murder Case

245 Words | 1 Pages

In Dallas, Texas a man was brutally murdered by servant at home. The body was cut up into limbs and put under the wood planks. During the murder the victim scream and heard by neighbors. Three police officers went into the scene. The suspect acted like nothing happened until he went insane and confessed.

Read More

E. B. Dubois's Argument For Valuing Truth

1209 Words | 5 Pages

While Plato presents a broad argument that emphasizes the importance of pursuing truth over eloquent words and oration, W.E.B. DuBois presents an argument specifically to African Americans, urging them to value a higher education that is centered around seeking truth in the face of civil dispute. However, their arguments for valuing truth are similar because they both urge their readers to seek truth over wealth and to not simply follow the opinion of the majority, especially when considering matters that affect the soul. Plato’s argument for pursuing truth begins in the dialogue “Apology” in his famous work known as the Five Dialogues, a series of conversations portraying Plato’s mentor Socrates and his profound philosophical

Read More

Comparing Socrates In The Apology, Crito, And The Republic

802 Words | 4 Pages

In the beginning of book VI, Socrates makes a point by saying that philosophers have always been able to see things as they are versus people who see things as they vary and so he asks, who should rule? (484b) Socrates then launches into how philosophers are the ones who love the truth and want nothing and will not stand for anything, but the truth. (485c) It is because of that they should rule and so Socrates is asking for a philosopher-king who will seek nothing but the truth through knowledge and wisdom. This is the most important and boldest claim Plato makes in the defense of philosophy.

Read More

How Does Socrates Corrupt Youth

1092 Words | 5 Pages

In the Greek literary work Apology written by Plato, Socrates was convicted for refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state, introducing new divinities and corrupting the youth. It is believed by many critics that Socrates knew he was going to be sentenced to death so, he was able to use his defense as an opportunity to clear his reputation, confront his accusers, but most significantly instruct the Athenians. He wanted them to look into themselves and seek virtue and wisdom before looking into personal interests. We notice throughout Socrates’ defense that there is a continued theme of wisdom and teaching towards the Athenians.

Read More

The Guilty Of Socrates In Plato's Apology

230 Words | 1 Pages

In the Apology, drafted by Plato, contained within the First Year Seminar anthology, the main character Socrates was convicted of several offenses. One was that “Socrates was guilty of wrongdoing in that he busied himself studying things in the sky and below the earth; he made the worse into the stronger argument, and he taught these same things to others” (Belmont University, 2016). Socrates countered with the one defense that he gained this slander because he possessed a unique kind of wisdom that others envied. In essence, who were jealous of Socrates desired to drag his name through the mud.

Read More

Characteristics Of Modern Day Socrates

1460 Words | 6 Pages

It’s what motivates people to stay persistent in accomplishing their goals. Socrates was an incredibly determined person. His single goal in life was to learn and to question others, a task he claimed was given to him by the gods, and in this goal, he succeeded tremendously. Socrates was endlessly determined to question as many people as possible, and even more so determined in aiding the questionee to achieve non biased logic in their thinking, while showing that what the claim to know, they do not really. For example, when Socrates was questioning Euthyphro about how he concluded what’s pious and what’s not, he kept asking what Euthyphro meant meant by his responses: “So you did not answer my question, you surprising man” (Euthyphro 8a).

Read More

Comparing Socrates Apology And The Crito

1678 Words | 7 Pages

With the Apology, and the Crito, Socrates comes to delve into his many teachings and finds himself put to death with the words of wisdom that have been passed down generation after generation. Socrates for many in this present day is a man of many words and great teachings, but anyone but Socrates thought differently, in Athens people thought of him as an annoyance rather than an integral part of society. As Socrates stood in front of the counsel of judges, he stood for what he thought was right and never changed opinion of himself or of his words. That’s why Socrates is still talked about in classrooms everywhere today.

Read More

Plato Apology: The Trial Of Socrates

606 Words | 3 Pages

“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.

Read More

Rhetorical Analysis Of Apology Of Socrates

937 Words | 4 Pages

Socrates appeals to ethos, or credibility, first. To do this he speaks directly to the audience, and all Athenians, by asking those who have heard him talk and preach to tell others that he is not an “evil-doer, and a curious person, who searches into things under the earth and in heaven, and he makes the worse

Read More

Socrates: A Threat To The Athenian Society

912 Words | 4 Pages

Socrates started his life as an average Athen citizen. His parents worked, making an honest living. But as Socrates grew up, he began to realize that his mind questioned things and wondered how come no one else questioned the same things or at least think about the answers to the questions that were not answered. So, as his mind kept wandering, he began to acknowledge the questions that were not answered and sought for those answers. He ended up believing and teaching things to other people, whether it went against the way the Athen government or not, he still continued his work.

Read More

Plato's Point Of View Of Socrates Research Paper

767 Words | 4 Pages

The existence and continual study of Socrates’ philosophy regardless of differing accounts is astonishing in itself since it survived not through the specific philosopher, but through other people. Which is a testament of the impact that a man, such as Socrates, can make. When we think of Plato, who is regarded as a father of western philosophy, we are quick to think of his major work The Republic, his student Aristotle, and his writing on Socrates. (We think of his writings on Socrates as mere footnotes in philosophical thought without examining them.) “Nothing comes from nothing,” Parmenides proudly claimed, and this philosophical doctrine applies to Plato’s thought.

Read More

The Apology: The Importance Of Plato's Contribution To Meaned Today

747 Words | 3 Pages

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

Read More

Analysis Of Socrates: Four Dialogues, By Plato

1595 Words | 7 Pages

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.

Read More

Trial And Death Of Socrates Analysis

1191 Words | 5 Pages

The trial and death of Socrates is a book with four dialogues all about the trail that leads to the eventual death of Socrates. The four dialogues are Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, and Phaedo. It will explain the reasoning that brought Socrates to trial in the first place and give us a glimpse into the physiological thought of this time, and in this paper will describe some of the differences today. The first of the four dialogues are Euthyphro.

Read More

Socrates Apology Analysis

1070 Words | 5 Pages

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.

Read More

More about Socrates Impact On Western Civilization

Related Topics

Open Document