Socrates did not expound his philosophy systematically (in an “acroamatic” form) but questioned his interlocutor and forced them to do some work themselves.Īt the same time, Socrates often pretended to be ignorant at first (this is often referred to as Socratic irony: “all I know is that I know nothing”), and then, having brought his interlocutor to absurd conclusions with skillful questions ( reductio ad absurdum), he would convince them to reassess their assumptions and solve the problem philosophically. Socrates conducted his research in the form of conversations, having developed his own special method of “Socratic” dialectics. Therefore, the saying “know thyself” inscribed in the Delphic temple was his motto. Socrates saw the main task of his philosophy in the knowledge of himself and others. So only through knowledge can we achieve virtuosity because it allows us to be aware of our actions. Without understanding the true nature of things, it’s impossible to do good deeds, be brave, or act justly. According to Socrates, knowledge, courage, and honesty are related to these concepts.Ĭrucially, Socrates argued that knowledge is a virtue. Socratic philosophy is based on the concepts of ethics, goodness, and virtue. He preferred to search for the truth through dialogue, instead. Socrates never wrote down his thoughts, because he believed that words lost their meaning and killed memory when they were written. Socrates’ Teachings and Philosophical Views Portrait of Socrates, Luca Giordano, via.
What we know about him today comes only from the memoirs of students, contemporaries, and followers like Plato and Aristotle. He left no written records of his wisdom or philosophy behind. Socrates studied with Damon and Conon, Zeno, Anaxagoras, and Archelaus in his youth, learning from other great minds of that time.
Socrates exhibited courage on the battlefield three times, most notably when he saved his commander Alcibiades from death. Still, when he went to war in Sparta as a heavily armed warrior wearing an expensive uniform, he demonstrated that his father was a wealthy citizen.
Socrates had an older brother who inherited the majority of their parent’s wealth. He came from a family of artisans, with his father being a sculptor and his mother working as a midwife. The great thinker and philosopher Socrates was born in 470-469 BC in Athens, Greece.
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