Philosophical Life and the Socratic Method - Essay Example

Philosophy Question Philosophical life Socrates is widely regarded because of his dedication of philosophy based on pursuit for genuine knowledge as opposed to a desire to outshine opponents. His public teachings caused an outcry among state officials in Athens who accused him of corrupting minds of young people and undermining religion of the state (Morrison, 87). The state advised Secretes to go out on exile, stop his cont6roversial public teachings, or be executed by the state. Socrates could not forsake philosophy to please the government and therefore chose to die. Plato, one of Socrates’ students documented the final public speech of Socrates, as well as an account of his last days on earth it the book, Apology (Morrison 106). There are many lessons that modern day philosophers can learn from Socrates and his commitment to seek Knowledge through Philosophy. One important lesson derived from the experience of Socrates devotion to knowledge and truth. Socrates is one of the few individuals to die for what they believe in. This teaches modern philosophers that no other external force should be able to stop one from seeking knowledge and truth, even if it means death (Morrison 123). Through his life, Socrates sought knowledge by raising questions about almost anything, giving lectures and holding public discussions in order to help other people understand philosophy. Socrates also challenged conventional actions in the society by questioning everything in order to evoke critical thinking among Athenians. Socrates urged people to examine their own lives in order to fine good purposes for living meaningful lives. Socrates behavior a philosopher is engaged with Athenians at different levels through intellectual discussions that aimed at unveiling meaningful truth and knowledge. His behavior provoked people to become critical thinkers. From what is documented in the Apology and Phaedo, philosophy is all about seeking knowledge through raising fundamental questions that will lead to an understanding of the society and everything around us. It is necessary to live a Socratic life in order to be a true philosopher. Thus is because Socrates provided a good example for one to seek knowledge. This is based on acceptance of one’s ignorance and willingness to learn. Question 2: Method and Argument The Socratic Method refers to a dialectical approach of seeking knowledge through raising and responding to questions in a discussion with other people. It involves a debate where a particular point of view is critically analyzed open-mindedly in an attempt to unveil new knowledge and understanding. Socrates is seeking truth and knowledge and achieves this through having discussions with other people in for a where they can raise questions and discuss different points of view in order to fully understand life, the society and everything within. The Socratic Method manifests itself in euthyphro, where Socrates is engaged in a discussion with an over confident individual about piety (Morrison 103). The method enables Socrates and Euthyphyro to analyze the concept of piety until they finally came to an understanding. According to Eythyphyro, morality originates from the gods. Socrates disputed this point by stating that either the gods may disagree amongst themselves, or they may agree on what constitutes morality. This cannot therefore be a good standard definition of piety, according to Socrates. Socrates style of interaction encourages the people he converses to engage in self-examination because it is thought provoking. Socrates raises fundamental questions that can only be answered through careful examination. The books Euthyphro, Crito, and Meno are leave one feeling satisfied regarding the issues being discussed. The books bring out different opinions and viewpoints on the topics of discussion a conclusive point. The remaining parts are left for self-examination where one can ponder on the issues on their own. Question 3: Justice and Law Socrates believed that all answers to any questions humanity had about humanity are within us. However, human being often limit themselves and are not willing to reach deep within to find the answers and solutions which we seek. Socrates believed that in order to discover these answers and solutions and actually attain knowledge, one had to practise the art of regimented conversation. He referred to this method the dialectic. This can be viewed as Socrates theory of knowledge. Dialectic can simply be described as the art of examining opinions and ideas logically, often through the method of enquiry and answer, as a way of determining their validity (West 26). Socrates believed that in a dialogue, which engaged all the parties involved, and everyone was expected to offer their own views and opinion on a particular subject, the result is that is a clear assertion of what was aimed or intended. As much as the technique may seem easy, it is a bit thorough. Socrates often feigned ignorance on a certain subject as a way to bring out from the other person their full knowledge on the subject. He believed that by gradually correcting curtailed and inaccurate notions through discussion, it was possible to coax out the truth out of anybody. Furthermore, Socrates introduces the theory of recollection in which he states that our souls are immortal and that we have already existed in the past. He believes that we have already learned everything there is to know in our past lives and when we are reborn again, we are not actually learning but rather refreshing our memories. Any soul that survives death therefore retains knowledge and is not just an empty life but also an intellect in the true sense of the word. According to Socrates, philosophers spend their entire lives preparing for the final moment of death and it would be odd if when one is faced with the moment, they freak out (West, 28). Question 4: Knowledge and Afterlife According to Socrates, no one ever knowingly commits a wrong knowing that what he or she is doing is wrong. The minute one commits a crime, they already know that what they are engaging in is a crime. Socrates seems firm on his stand that no injurious action can actually be just. However, he later argues that an injury caused to a wrongdoer is just and is for the wrongdoers own good (West 30). In Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, he is trying to argue about when it is acceptable for one to break the law. He believes that any law that dehumanises human personality is unfair and any law that supports the human personality is just. He further states that one should break them lovingly, openly, willingly and be willing to accept the penalties that come with violating the law. He further claims that sometimes defying the law is in a way showing utmost respect to it. Socrates main reason behind refusing to break out of jail, even though he knew he was being held wrongfully, was the fact that he believed that one had to respect the law no matter how unjust the law was. The logic behind his reasoning was that if everyone in the state chose to disobey the law simply because they felt that it was unjust, and then there would be no laws in place at all hence leading to chaos. Dr. King’s idea of respect to the law was rather different from Socrates. According to him, breaking unjust laws was his idea of showing respect to the law. Although the two philosopher’s actions were different, they both had the same morals and beliefs. Dr. King completely refused to follow the law while Socrates committed his life to follow the law whether they were just or not (West 45). Work Cited Morrison, Donald R. The Cambridge Companion to Socrates, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. West, Thomas G, Grace S. West, Plato, Plato, Plato, and Aristophanes. Four Texts on Socrates: Platos Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito, and Aristophanes Clouds. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998. Print Read More