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Socrates And The Socratic Method Analysis

1253 Words6 Pages

The philosopher Socrates and his thought process have shaped Greek philosophical thinking for generations. He is revered by academics and feared by others due to his complex method of thinking and attempt to understand the deeper workings of life. He believes that knowledge is directly related to virtue so in order to live a virtuous life one must seek knowledge. The main goal of Socrates’ philosophical work and teaching was not to get someone to realize a particular fact but rather to entice philosophical thinking and ultimately strive for perfection of the human character. The Socratic method was just a means to an end for Socrates and the end was this excellence. The Socratic method is a process of questioning in which Socrates would have …show more content…

In fact, the teacher would embrace and cherish the error due to it being a step in the right direction in this complex progressive idea. Socrates once said that the only thing he knew was that he knew nothing. This admission of ignorance became known as Socratic irony, this is a point of view designed to make the Socratic method function. However I find the awareness of ignorance to be a very interesting topic. There is nothing admirable about simply being ignorant but to be fully conscious about said ignorance results in a higher level of thinking and once again this admission is not seen as a downfall but as a move toward greatness in consciousness and ultimate …show more content…

The series of questions Socrates asks appear to be very simple, “is it thanks to justice that people are just?” Of course it is in Hippias’ mind, anything that is just must be so as a result of justice. The same questions are asked for wise people being so thanks to wisdom and good things good thanks to goodness. The conversation takes a turn for deeper philosophical thought when Socrates uses Hippias’ words against him – “That is, thanks to actual entities. It couldn’t be thanks to non-entities.” What is noticeable here from Hippias’ dialogue is that he does not see the deep-rooted issue and difference between essence and example. The turning point in this dialogue, where we finally see what is being processed inside Socrates’ head, is when he begins to speak about beauty. We see Socrates asking higher order questions, are all “beautiful things beautiful thanks to beauty?” Hippias plays right into Socrates’ hand by agreeing that they are beautiful thanks to an actual entity. What Hippias fails to recognize is the difference between essence and example. “What is beauty?” Hippias asks: “Isn’t that the same as asking what are beautiful

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