Philosophy Exam #1: Socrates
Socrates says death may be a good rather than an evil, so he doesn't fear death. What are Socrates two ideas he describes of what death may be like?
1) Death may be like an endless night and a peaceful unconsciousness. 2) You may be able to move on an afterlife where you can meet historical figures and judges who faced injustice, and question them and learn about wisdom from them.
How does he respond to these charges?
1) uses the ordinary appeal to experience 2) He says that if it was true that he corrupted the youth, it was unintentional and he cannot be thrown in jail for something he did unintentionally. 3) Socrates says that he if he corrupted you, you would become harmful to others, and then he would harm himself. 4) Socrates is accused of not believing in any Gods, but he does believe in Gods. Meledes is contradicting himself by saying Socrates is forming a new religion, but does not believe in Gods.
What are the three things people believe are the good life and purpose of life?
HONORS- Some people seek out high regard, high political offices. MONEY-Some believe money and material possessions will bring them happiness. SENSE PLEASURES- Some believe sense pleasures are the highest good.
Why does Socrates not put his family on the stand to testify for his life?
He does not want to make an emotional plea for his life. Socrate says justice should not be a gift or out of pity. Rather, justice and judgement should come from reason and not from emotion. Socrates asked to be judged and sentenced through honesty and reason.
What makes Socrates different from Sophists?
He doesn't charge a fee. Socrates is not interested in heaven or earth.
How does Socrates live his life?
He is a virtuous man who seeks a life of simplicity and and seeks to find the truth. He seeks wisdom and he tries to teach others about wisdom by questioning them. He seeks simplicity in speech, press, and lifestyle.
What is Socrates not interested in?
He is not interested in the heavens and the Earth and is also not interested in making money, like a Sophist.
Why does Socrates believe that a bad man cannot inflict real harm on a good man?
He says that in the afterlife, the good men will be rewarded. Also, your true good is the justice within and a person's good cannot be displaced by another person. The only person that can control your soul is yourself, and a bad man can touch your body, but never your soul.
What is Socrates's goal in speaking to others about wisdom?
He wants to spread the truth.
Give an example of a virtue that can lead you to obtain the good life and pleasure.
Industriousness or(a strong work ethic) is a virtue that leads you to make money. Temperance is a virtue that allows you to eat in moderation and having temperance leads you to good health.
What does Socrates think is the way to the good life?
It is okay to seek out other things, but it is important to prioritize and seek righteousness and virtue, or soul-improvement first. He wants to spend his life pursuing wisdom. He says that humans are incapable of divine wisdom, but if you aim for divine wisdom, you will gain a human wisdom
When does Socrates believe love of money can be harmful?
Love of money can become harmful when it leads you to treat people unjustly.
What are philosophers?
Philosophers study things of the Heaven and under the Earth. The goal of philosophy is to learn the truth.
What makes the politicians, poets and artisans unwise?
Politicians : very conceited, become consumed by their desire for power. They did not have the wisdom to give Socrates adequate answers. The poets can write very well, write many beautiful words. But when asked, they cannot explain the meaning behind their poetry. This is what makes them unwise. The artisans all knew something, so Socrates would say they were the wisest of the politicians, poets, and artisans. The problem with the artisans were that they were conceited, could not admit that there were some things they didn't know. They were overly presumptuous.
Why did Socrates not want to become a politician full-time after being a politician for a short-time?
Politicians may overvalue power, and may seek power over righteousness. He did not want to become to focused on power. When Socrates was a politician, he was asked to do unrighteous deeds, such as arresting the innocent. He wanted enough time to pursue wisdom and teach others.
What does Socrates believe is God's calling to him?
Socrates believe God is calling him to go out and question others about the way they are living their lives.
Why would Socrates rather be sentenced to death rather than exiled?
Socrates believes death may be a good and not an evil. He believes that if he is exiled, he will be hated wherever he goes because he will not stop questioning others and trying to teach them wisdom.
What are Socrates's beliefs about success?
Socrates believes that his success is measured in living a righteous life. Others foolishly measure their success by their careers. Socrates teaches that it doesn't matter what your success is, but rather if, what you are doing is for the good of humanity and for the good of everyone.
Why would Socrates's view of the afterlife not be satisfying to some people?
Socrates has the view that the afterlife may be a never ending search for wisdom. This idea may be unsatisfying to some people because it may mean we will never find fulfillment. We can always get closer to wisdom, but can never find it.
Why does Socrates compare himself to a gabfly and Athens to a horse?
Socrates says he is like a gabfly and Athens is like a horse, because he alights and stings Athens, by teaching them and questioning their wisdom.
Why does Socrates think he is the wisest man on Earth and what makes a man wise?
Socrates says he is wiser because he doesn't claim to know what he doesn't know. He is aware of his own ignorance. The wisest man will admit that human wisdom is very small compared to the enormous wisdom of God.
While on the stand, Socrates is asked whether he is ashamed to live his life in such a way that he will die early. What is his response.
Socrates says that it doesn't matter how long you live. What matters is the quality of your life and what is righteous and good. It is better to live honorably and ethically and die young, then live a life that is unethical.
What does Socrates think about the afterlife and justice?
Socrates thinks that if the afterlife is good and rewarding, it will only be good for the people who have lived their life justly. Socrates thinks that if there is a reward in the afterlife, it is imperative that we try to find the righteous life and avoid what is wrong.
Which group of people is considered wisest by Socrates, but is still not very wise?
Socrates thinks the artisans are wise, because they know some things. However, the problem and what made them unwise is that they couldn't admit that they lacked wisdom. They were overly confident and presumptuous, like the politicians.
What does Socrates think is the problem with the people of Athens?
Socrates thinks the people of Athens think that which is lesser is higher including money, fame, and reputation. He says they should care more for the pursuit of wisdom, truth, and soul improvement.
What was Socrates charged with?
Socrates was charged with corrupting the youth, disbelieving in gods of the state, and believing in false gods.
Why is it important to not live a life controlled by animal desires?
Some people live as if their whole life is a reaction to an animalistic desire, whether that be a desire for sex, food, sensory pleasures, etc.
What is a sophist?
Sophists are a group of philosophers who would teach the art of rhetoric and charge a fee. Sophists did not act with the goal of spreading the truth, but instead had the goal of persuasion and sounding eloquent. They taught rhetoric which is eloquent speech. The Sophists were accused of making the weaker argument, the stronger one.
Why were the poets considered unwise and a problem by Socrates?
The poets wrote many beautiful words, but when asked to describe the meaning behind what they wrote, they couldn't. This is what makes them unwise.
What is Socrate's most famous statement?
The unexamined life is not worth living.
Why were the politicians considered unwise and a problem by Socrates?
They were overly conceited, sometimes became consumed by the desire for power, and were overly presumptuous.
What are some of the character traits included in virtue that are required to obtain the good life?
Trustworthiness, A strong work ethic, loves God, seeks to obey God
What is the relationship between virtue and money?
Virtue can never come from money, as the Sophists believe. Instead, money comes from virtue. From virtue, comes money, honor, and every pleasure and good of man.
What does Socrates say is the known evil we should avoid?
injustice
Philosophers are:
physicists
What is the good life to Socrates?
the righteous life
practical science
to contemplate the truth for the purpose of action; ex: carpentry, playing the violin
speculative science
to contemplate the truths attained for the purpose of understanding or wisdom; ex: Biology