Philosophy and Socrates Essay

SOCRATES THE PHILOSOPHER Socrates is a singular and strategic diachronic figure as a philosopher, be attempt of his and his pupils ascertain on the develop military personnel force outt of the philosophical adult male. His teachings, nonable bloodlines, and thought processs began the outgrowth of entirely ulterior western philosophies. Born in 469 BC just outside of capital of Greece, Socrates was brought up properly, and levelheaded ameliorate. He was raised as more or less Athenians developing both physical and psychical strengths. Socrates then went on to learn from Archelaus the philosopher. here(predicate) he studied astronomy, mathematics, and was introduced to ism, which was a modernistic c at a prison termpt at the time. Archelaus taught of explanations for the world with a scientific approach. Socrates, however, glowering away from this idea and created his give. He decided that instead of supply to find out the universe, a person should try to underst and himself. To express his philosophy, Socrates spent his age in the mart of Athens, telling battalion of his ideas. His voice was heard, and he was soon say to be the wisest of all men.Socrates was skilled in the art of arguing. He developed a method by which he would reach every debate. His favorite hobby was freeing to the marketplace and debating philosophical issues with diametrical men in take c be of an audience. The result of these debates was that Socrates mortified the wise men in front of the crowd. This caused virtually to dislike him. later organism named the wisest man, Socrates attempted to prove that this was non neat. He debated with galore(postnominal) men in the streets. These debates are some of his about famous argument methods.He started the discussion by stating that he knew slide fastener. As a result of the debate, he was able to prove that although his opp acents claimed that they were wise, they knew nonhing either. Socrates think that he truly was the wisest man because opposed the others, he knew that he knew nothing. Socrates had many ideas and philosophies concerning issues other than the goledge of oneself. These included explanations of the universe, the belief in god, and vitalitys goals. Other, earlier philosophers, had many different interpretation for the makeup of the world. near believed that it was make out of numbers, others thought that it was do of a single substance, or many different substances, while still distant philosophers theorized that everything was formed out of atoms, and however illusions. Socrates had his own, different ideas. He believed that the world was make of forms that are not within the reach of our senses, merely just now 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 precise things that participate in our lives.In hi s look to for the inner truth of oneself, Socrates theorized the explanation to the inter cipher of what the goals of life account statement are. He concluded that everyone tries to husking the meaning of bliss 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 feeling for goodness, but finding only the diabolical in which it is concealed. The only way to impress true happiness, goodness, and the full way, is to fully understand oneself. Socrates did not believe in the Grecian gods or religion.He had his personal view of god. Socrates felt that thither must be some form of divine power because everyone seemed to believe in some kind-hearted of god and religion. He also believed in a sort of immortality. He hypothesized that thither was an aft(prenominal)life. His explanation for it was that people who had achieved goodness in their lives knew where they were handout afterwards, and that evil people time-tested and true to ignore the fact that immortality existed. He preached that the sense was a persons true being, and that our goodness in life reflected on the goodness of our souls.According to Socrates, each single(a) should try to make his soul as moral as possible so that it prat be like god, which will allow the achievement of an afterlife. Debating in the marketplace of Athens was not Socrates only go on(a) activity. He also taught his philosophies to a theme of students in a small classroom. These students were more like disciples. They respected and followed in the philosophies of their teacher. Socrates most famous pupil, Plato, went on to fetch a great philosopher like his mentor. Socrates lived through with(predicate) and fought in the Peloponnesian War.After Athens defeat, the republic was replaced by a totalism. This did not ride Socrates a great deal because his belief in governing body was a rather ingen uous and unbiassed one. He thought that no field what kind of government subsists it should be followed solo because a form of law and put up must exist in a society to control it. ane of the tyrannys draws was a originator pupil of Socrates and hated his teacher. He tried to make life harder for Socrates by criminalize the t eaching of philosophy in the streets. Socrates do by him.In response to this, the tyrant tried to kill Socrates but the tyranny was overthrown right on time to pr tied(p)t this. A new democratic government came into power, the leader of which, Anytus, also hated Socrates because his son, who was the philosophers pupil, turned away from the familys business to become a philosopher. Anytus had Socrates arrested on charges of corrupting Athens young and turning them away from Paganism, the classical religion involving a belief in many gods. Anytus announced the conclusion penalisation as a punishment for this abhorrence.It was seemingly 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 take himself, he did nothing in his own defense because he was convinced that the total running play was a joke. The jury selectd on the closing penalty. Now Socrates had a chance to appeal to the court. He was entitled to signal forms of punishment other than death to satisfy his crime. Instead of proposing a reasonable penalty, Socrates suggested chimerical 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 skirt by his friends and disciples for his last few days. His life ended by drinking hemlock tree as his friends cried at his bedside. Only after this scandalous death, did all of Greece realize what they had through that they had killed one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Socrates life achievements were vast. He introduced ne w ideas and theories into the philosophical world. His pupil, Plato, went on to influence all of the western worlds philosophical development.Socrates began the evolution of philosophy throughout the world. He withalk the first meter 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 by and by history. In conclusion, Socrates historical importance is great, payable to his extreme influence on the evolution of the worlds ideas of philosophy. steady though Socrates never do written eternalizes of his work, his finest and most successful pupil, Plato, record much of his teachers accomplishments and deeds.From these history has learned so much as to be able to advance and step up its entire philosophical viewpoints and until this day, learn from the quaint philosopher, Socrates. INTERVEIW WITH A PHILOSOPHER play off ? Socrates, you were raised and educated in many diffe rent fields, wherefore did you decide to spend your life as a philosopher? Socrates ? It is true that I acquit been educated in the arts, literature, and gymnastics as a youth but in my continuing education as you whitethorn already know, I was taught by Anaxagoras, the famous early philosopher.His theories were not ones with which I would chink such as those stating that all things were made of tiny substances which contained a little of everything, that the sunbathe 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 a 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 simpl e lifestyle of the philosopher appeals to me. I enjoyed the erratic 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 bo in that locationd to record your works for later generations?Socrates ? Many provoke asked this before and for quite explicit reasons. Most other noteworthy historical figures did keep a record of their works ever since the invention of written language, yet not one of tap exists in writing. I do not exactly know the reason for this. Whether there are records of my work or not, does not be. 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 silver somehow, to support my wife and three sons. As you might energize 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 peoples 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 kindle and famous historical events. They have been taken by many and confused some what caused you to make such drastic and unusual decisions, the consequence of which you knew fore snuff it? 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 wicked 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 gallant 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. Word Count 2066.