Philosophy and Socrates Essay

SOCRATES THE PHILOSOPHER Socrates is a noneworthy and important diachronic figure as a philosopher, be example of his and his pupils trance on the development of the philosophic being. His t individuallyings, famous arguments, and ideas began the outgrowth of all subsequently western philosophies. Born in 469 BC just outside of Athens, Socrates was brought up properly, and thoroughly better. He was brocaded as most Athenians developing both physical and mental strengths. Socrates then went on to learn from Archelaus the philosopher.Here he studied astronomy, mathematics, and was introduced to philosophical system, which was a new concept at the time. Archelaus taught of news reports for the world with a scientific approach. Socrates, however, turned a guidance from this idea and created his own. He inflexible that kind of of trying to under bide the universe, a person should try to understand himself. To picture his philosophy, Socrates spent his days in the marketplace of Athens, telling commonwealth of his ideas. His utterance was heard, and he was soon decl atomic number 18d to be the intelligentst of all men.Socrates was s poped in the art of arguing. He developed a method by which he would win every debate. His favorite hobby was personnel casualty to the marketplace and debating philosophical issues with other men in front of an audience. The result of these debates was that Socrates embarrassed the wise men in front of the crowd. This caused whatsoever to dislike him. After macrocosm named the wisest man, Socrates attempted to prove that this was not authoritative. He debated with many men in the streets. These debates are some of his most famous argument methods.He started the news by stating that he knew nothing. As a result of the debate, he was commensurate to prove that although his opp anents claimed that they were wise, they knew nothing either. Socrates concluded that he really was the wisest man because contrasted the oth ers, he knew that he knew nothing. Socrates had many ideas and philosophies stiring issues other than the knowledge of oneself. These included ex stick outations of the universe, the tactile sensation in god, and lifes goals. Other, earlier philosophers, had many different version for the makeup of the world.Some retrieved that it was do out of numbers, others thought that it was made of a single substance, or many different substances, while still impertinent philosophers theorized that everything was formed out of atoms, and even illusions. Socrates had his own, different ideas. He believed that the world was made of forms that are not within the reach of our senses, but only of our thoughts. This means, for example, that when we believe of characteristics such as roundness, we only picture ideas of it like a clustering or a wheel. Therefore, he assumed that we only understand particular proposition things that participate in our lives.In his search for the inner truth of oneself, Socrates theorized the explanation to the question of what the goals of life are. He concluded that everyone tries to find the meaning of mirth and steady-goingness in their existence. This is the purpose of life. However, true comfort comes in many forms and is disguised in a way that people reach their lives expression for goodness, but finding only the evil in which it is concealed. The only way to discover true happiness, goodness, and the right way, is to fully understand oneself. Socrates did not believe in the Greek gods or holiness.He had his personal view of god. Socrates matte that there must be some form of divine federal agency because everyone seemed to believe in some kind of god and religion. He besides believed in a sort of immortality. He hypothesized that there was an afterlife. His explanation for it was that people who had achieved goodness in their lives knew where they were going afterwards, and that evil people tried to brush aside the fact that immortality existed. He preached that the soul was a persons true being, and that our goodness in life reflected on the goodness of our souls.According to Socrates, each individual should try to make his soul as moral as possible so that it can be like god, which will supply the achievement of an afterlife. Debating in the marketplace of Athens was not Socrates only day by day activity. He also taught his philosophies to a group of students in a microscopical classroom. These students were practically like disciples. They respected and followed in the philosophies of their teacher. Socrates most famous pupil, Plato, went on to become a great philosopher like his mentor. Socrates lived through and fought in the Peloponnesian War.After Athens defeat, the democracy was replaced by a despotism. This did not problem Socrates much because his belief in government was a rather straightforward and apathetic one. He thought that no matter what kind of government subsists it sho uld be followed solely because a form of law and order must exist in a society to control it. peerless of the tyrannys loss leaders was a former pupil of Socrates and hated his teacher. He tried to make life harder for Socrates by banning the t eaching of philosophy in the streets. Socrates ignored him.In response to this, the tyrant tried to kill Socrates but the tyranny was overthrown right on time to prevent 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 Greek religion involving a belief in many gods. Anytus announced the decease penalty as a punishment for this crime.It was self-explanatoryly an outrageous sentence for a crime that was not even committed. Socrates was brought before a jury and sort of of u sing his debating skills to defend himself, he did nothing in his own plea because he was convinced that the entire trial was a joke. The jury voted on the death penalty. Now Socrates had a chance to appeal to the court. He was entitle to suggest forms of punishment other than death to satisfy his crime. Instead of proposing a reasonable penalty, Socrates suggested ridiculous 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 surrounded by his friends and disciples for his make it a few(prenominal) days. His life ended by drinking hemlock as his friends cried at his bedside. Only after this scandalous death, did all of Greece realize what they had done that they had killed one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Socrates life achievements were vast. He introduced new ideas and theories into the philosophical world. His pupil, Plato, went on to influence all of the weste rn worlds philosophical development.Socrates began the maturation of philosophy throughout the world. He took the first step toward advancing groundbreaking philosophy, as we know it. His theories and ideas were a whole new concept that helped come near the western philosophy through all of later history. In conclusion, Socrates historical importance is great, cod to his extreme influence on the evolution of the worlds ideas of philosophy. Even though Socrates never made written records of his work, his finest and most successful pupil, Plato, recorded much of his teachers accomplishments and deeds.From these history has knowing so much as to be able to advance and prove its entire philosophical viewpoints and until this day, learn from the ancient philosopher, Socrates. INTERVEIW WITH A PHILOSOPHER Mark ? Socrates, you were raised and educated in many different fields, why did you decide to spend your life as a philosopher? Socrates ? It is true that I experience been educat ed in the arts, literature, and gymnastics as a youth but in my continuing education as you may already know, I was taught by Anaxagoras, the famous early philosopher.His theories were not ones with which I would agree such as those stating that all things were made of tiny substances which contained a little of everything, that the sun 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 different from his. My pastime 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 simple lifestyle of the philosopher appeals to me. I enjoyed the extraordinary(predicate) 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 bothered to record your works for later generations?Socrates ? some have asked this before and for quite obvious reasons. Most other noteworthy historical figures did keep a record of their works ever since the concept of written language, yet not one of mine exists in writing. I do not hardly know the reason for this. Whether there are records of my work or not, does not matter. I will forever be remembered by my loyal pupils, the Athenian population, and the world. Furthermore, nothing I ever state was of too great importance. And to tell you the truth, I never really cherished 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 money somehow, to support my wife and iii sons. As you might have 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 screw 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 provoke and famous historical events. They have been interpreted by many and disquieted some what caused you to make such drastic and unusual decisions, the consequence of which you knew forehand(prenominal)? 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 belief s 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 guilty 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 l ived a happy life. One that I was proud of living, no matter how unusual it may bulge 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. 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