Day 2: Socrates (470/469–399 BC)

A foundational figure in Western philosophy, known for his Socratic method.

Biography of Socrates

Socrates, born in Athens around 470/469 BC, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in the annals of philosophy. Unlike his predecessors, who pondered the cosmos’s physical nature, Socrates turned the gaze inward, focusing on ethics and the human condition. The son of Sophroniscus, a stonemason, and Phaenarete, a midwife, Socrates himself likened his role in Athens to that of a midwife, assisting in the birth of wisdom in others rather than imparting it directly. His life was marked by a profound commitment to philosophical inquiry, engaging with Athenians from all walks of life in the agora, questioning their beliefs and assumptions with his relentless dialectic method.

Major Ideas and Contributions

Socrates’s philosophy is famously encapsulated in his declaration that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” He championed the pursuit of virtue and knowledge, believing that the essence of a good life lies in continuous self-examination and striving for moral excellence. Socrates introduced the Socratic method, a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue between individuals, based on asking and answering questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out ideas and underlying presuppositions.

Central to Socratic thought is the concept of eudaimonia, often translated as happiness or human flourishing, which he argued could be achieved through virtuous living and self-knowledge. Socrates’s ethical teachings emphasized that virtue is a kind of knowledge — the knowledge of good and evil — and that no one willingly does evil; thus, knowledge leads to virtue.

Major Works

Socrates wrote nothing himself, and our knowledge of his teachings and life comes primarily from his students, particularly Plato, and contemporaries such as Xenophon. These accounts have immortalized the philosophical dialogues Socrates engaged in, but they also pose challenges in distinguishing the historical Socrates from the literary character.

Influence and Legacy

The trial and subsequent execution of Socrates in 399 BC, on charges of corrupting the youth and impiety, marked a pivotal moment in the history of Western philosophy. His death inspired his followers, most notably Plato, to preserve and expand upon his ideas, thus laying the foundations of Western philosophical thought. Socrates’s emphasis on ethical inquiry and his method of dialectical reasoning have influenced countless philosophers and the broader fields of ethics, epistemology, and logic.

Fun Facts

1. Military Service: Socrates was not just a philosopher; he also served as a hoplite, a heavily armed foot soldier, in several battles during the Peloponnesian War.
2. Iconoclast: Socrates’s method of questioning the status quo and challenging traditional beliefs earned him both admiration and animosity in Athens, ultimately leading to his trial and execution.
3. Socratic Irony: Socrates often professed ignorance on various topics, a tactic that encouraged his interlocutors to articulate their thoughts more fully and thus expose their own lack of knowledge.

Conclusion

Socrates’s legacy is the critical spirit he bequeathed to Western philosophy, a tradition of questioning and examination that challenges individuals to reflect deeply on their beliefs and actions. His life and ideas, as recorded by his students, continue to resonate with and inspire those seeking to understand the essence of a life well-lived.