Greece The Classical Period Socrates 470 399 BCE

Greece- The Classical Period

Socrates (470 -399 BCE) • Never wrote a word of philosophy • We know of his work through Plato – Plato’s dialogues • Literary creation- Discussions • Walked around Athens asking questions – Asked people to explain things to him – Used questions to find the truth

Socrates and the Dialectic • Socrates believes we know answers • A skillful questioner can show the answers • We know things we don’t think we know • Socratic dialectic: Using questioning to show people the truth. • Socrates doesn’t give answers, he asks questions until you figure out the truth

We don’t know anything! • Socrates believes in questions • Find out where you are ignorant • The person who thinks they know it all will never asks questions, and will never learn • The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance • I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance. -- Socrates

Socrates has enemies • Socrates walks around asking questions of the rich, proving how ignorant they are. • Young men begin to follow him around, watching him clown all the big-wigs. – He gains a big following with the kids • Socrates is accused of “Corrupting the Youth” and “Bringing Dishonor to the State”

The Apology

The Apology • At the age of 70, Socrates is brought to trial – Jury of 501 citizens • Socrates defends himself in a speech, told to us by Plato as The Apology • Apology: Philosophical defense, not an admission of guilt

The Apology • Socrates says his entire life is about truth • Athenians have become arrogant – Think they know it all • Socrates is only proving that we need to learn – He should be rewarded, not punished • Jury says that if Socrates will shut up and go into exile, he can go free – Socrates refuses, and is found guilty

Socrates is condemned to death • The unexamined life is not worth living --Socrates • He drinks the hemlock (poison), and dies • When you stop questioning life, and stop questioning yourself, you’re as good as dead inside

The Death of Socrates (399 BCE)