Essay on Socrates and Plato - 549 Words

Socrates and Plato: Significant Philosophers of Ancient Greece nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;â€Å"The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living.† This is the famous quote proclaimed by Socrates, a controversial philosopher of ancient Athens. He believed that anyone could lead a significant and meaningful existence by examining his or her own life and ideas very thoroughly. (Soccio) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Socrates was wise in respect to the fact that he never accepted a â€Å"truth† that was told to him, without getting incontestable evidence to back it up. He made the realization that people believed in things without even knowing where their ideas came from. In ancient Athens, citizens believed in many gods and myths associated with them.†¦show more content†¦Is their one god I should obey, or how do I know when to support one god and when to follow another?† The priest was embarrassed by his question and witnesses snickered. (Philips) This kind of questioning was typical of Socrates. His search for knowledge by asking questions is known as the Socratic Method. (Soccio) Socrates was put to death in 399 B.C.E. for allegedly â€Å"corrupting the youth of Athens†, by questioning the nature of their beliefs. (Fiero) Socrates most famous student, Plato, took Socrates’ teachings one-step further after his death. He was angered by the death of his friend, and began to distrust government; namely, the Athenian democracy. He thought that a rule by majority was corrupt, and that the majority of people were not bright enough to make decisions for the state. Plato attempted to demonstrate that there was proof of a â€Å"divine goodness† by several illustrations. Such illustrations include his famous â€Å"Divided Line†, â€Å"The Simile of the Sun†, and â€Å"The Allegory of the Cave†. In these expressions, he aims to pick apart the foundation of knowledge and where it comes from. He believed that human souls could ultimately reach the highest level of reality and have a total understanding of all things. In other words, the soul who had reached the highest level of understanding no longer needed to question or perceive things, because he would recognize and comprehend â€Å"pure knowledge† or â€Å"pure goodness†. (Soccio) In a way, I think Plato was trying toShow MoreRelatedSocrates, Plato, and Aristotle884 Words   |  4 PagesMike W. Civ. 1: Sec, 121-10 Dr. Maria Farina Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, three men considered to be the quintessential basis of ancient Greek philosophy. Not only were they responsible for Greek enlightenment, but also foreshadowed the coming of Christ in there speculations. Plato, the protà ©gà © of Socrates, became the first to document the philosophy of his teacher, which in turn is passed down to Aristotle. This process of mentoring aided ancient man in the intellectual evolution ofRead MoreSocrates, Plato, And Aristotle900 Words   |  4 Pagesphilosophers that have many different views and opinions on philosophy. In this essay, I will be talking about the three great philosophers: Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and how they help to define what exactly philosophy is. These three Greek philosophers represent the birthplace of Western philosophy and help to shed some light on the actual meaning of the term. Socrates is from about 400 B.C. His final destination was simple. He wanted to assist others so that they could really investigate their ownRead MorePlato s Ion, Socrates, And Socrates855 Words   |  4 PagesIn Plato’s Ion, Socrates tries to prove that all poets are ignorant. He did not leave out himself, as a matter of fact, what separated Socrates from the others is the fact that he knew he was ignorant. 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Socrates goes on by telling Euthyphro hisRead MoreEssay on Plato Vs Socrates1129 Words   |  5 Pagesknow good itself. Plato believes that the contemporary society is mistaken about their interpretations of good and pleasant. Society believes that good is pleasant. Plato portrays this message through the mouth piece of Socrates. The philosopher Polus argues that good is made by the possessor. He says one can achieve good through their actions. Good is achievable by all, different to all and can be attained by the possessor through good actions. Socrates argues that his definition