Thought of Socrates

We tell you what Socrates' thought was and its characteristics. Also, its history and its relationship with Plato.

What was Socrates' thought?

Socrates (470-399 BC) is one of the most important philosophers of all time. His thinking is characterized by having been dedicated to ethical issues and the search for universal definitions, as well as to dialogue and irony as a philosophical form.

Along with Plato (427-347 BC), who was his disciple, and Aristotle (384-322 BC), Socrates was part of the classical period of ancient philosophy. Unlike them, he left no written worksbut appears in the works of his disciples as one of their characters, especially in the Platonic dialogues.

Socrates is especially known for having sought universal definitions of some concepts. For Socrates, philosophy had to teach how to liveand that is why he studied and reflected on different moral concepts, such as virtue, goodness or goodness.

For its part, the Socratic method focused on the search for truth through dialogue and questioning.

Socrates believed in the importance of self-discipline, self-reflection, and the search for inner knowledge. The Platonic dialogues show a passionate Socrates who constantly seeks the truth and helps his compatriots to carry out their duties in the city more honestly.

Furthermore, he is known for his famous motto “I only know that I know nothing”, which reflects his intellectual humility and his constant search for truth and virtue.

See also: Socrates

“I only know that I know nothing.”

Socrates' phrase “I only know that I know nothing” is an example of Socratic humility. Unlike his contemporaries, Socrates recognized himself as ignorant and that allowed him to learn and practice philosophy freely.

It is assumed that the phrase was said by Socrates, but the formula is only an approximate estimate, since there is no testimony that he said those words exactly. There are different cases in which he confessed similar ideas, such as in the Apology of Socrates, a work by Plato, where he stated that he, who did not know, did not believe he knew something either.

Maieutics

Maieutics, for Socrates, is a process in which knowledge is extracted from the individual through dialogue and introspection. Use irony to reveal contradictions in the beliefs of their interlocutors and lead them to greater understanding.

The idea of ​​maieutics is related to that of a birth. Like the midwife who helps give birth, The philosopher helps his interlocutors to bring out the truth that they carry within themselves..

Socratic maieutics focused on dialogue and self-reflection. Socrates did not provide direct answers, but rather asked questions that led the person to consider their own opinions and reasoning.

As the conversation progressed, the interlocutor became aware of his contradictions or gaps in thinking, which led to a deeper search for truth and greater clarity in his ideas.

Socratic irony

Socratic irony was a rhetorical technique that Socrates used in maieutics. It consisted of feign ignorance or lack of knowledge about a topic to stimulate dialogue and critical thinking.

In most cases, Socrates presented himself as a person who wanted to learn from others, naively asking about different questions, such as courage or piety. This allowed him to lower the guard of his interlocutors, who expressed themselves freely and revealed their arguments.

However, The irony was intended to bring clarity to those who spoke with Socrates, not to expose them. He did not seek to humiliate them but to guide them towards a firmer position on the different issues that came into the discussion.

Socratic definitions

Socrates was concerned with finding universal definitions of abstract concepts such as justice, virtue, and love. He believed that understanding these definitions was essential to living an ethical and meaningful life. These definitions were a fundamental part of his method of inquiry and questioning, and his goal was to reach a deeper understanding of the concepts discussed.

Socrates questioned the conventional or superficial definitions that people offered and led them to explore the implications and limitations of their own definitions. Through this process, Socrates hoped that his interlocutors would arrive at more solid and rational definitions, based on reasoning and deep reflection.

Socratic definitions were not simple descriptions of concepts, but rather sought to capture the essence of things.. This served as Plato's inspiration for his theory of ideas, which many consider to be nothing more than the universal Socratic definitions taken to the status of an individual entity.

Knowledge as a virtue and care of the soul

Socrates believed that knowledge and virtue were interconnected. He believed that ignorance was the cause of evil and that through knowledge and reflection, one could achieve virtue and live an ethical life. Thus, every person who had a fair knowledge of things had to act well, while those who acted badly did so out of ignorance. For Socrates, no one wanted evil for its own sake.

Additionally, Socrates believed in the immortality of the soul and its importance to the pursuit of truth and virtue. He considered that the soul should be nourished and cared for through knowledge and the philosophy to reach your maximum potential. For him, knowledge was not the mere accumulation of knowledge, but what people brought with them, which functioned as a basis for adding new knowledge.

Life of Socrates

Socrates was born between 470 and 469 BC. c.in Athens. He died in 399 BC. C., executed by the Athenian aristocracy. Son of Sophronisco and Fenáreta of Alópoce, he participated in at least three battles of the Peloponnesian War.

In the biographies made by his disciples it is said that he had a wife, three children and was a friend and teacher of many young people and thinkers of the time, such as Plato and some others. It is also known that his physical appearance was relatively weak compared to his intelligence, which earned him the ridicule of his enemies.

Friend of the truth, He fought to teach his peers to live in a morally acceptable world. To do this, he sought universal definitions of different concepts, always through dialogue and common sense questions. However, He was accused by the Athenian democrats of being a traitor to morals and customs.

He was sentenced to death, decided to accept the sentence and died by drinking hemlock, which was a form of punishment that involved taking poison. These events were narrated by Plato in two of his works, Apology and Phaedo.

Socrates and Plato

The relationship between Socrates and Plato is fundamental in the history of philosophy. Plato, born in Athens around 427 or 428 BC, was a disciple and close follower of Socrates. Socrates did not leave any writings of his own, but his ideas and methods were transmitted primarily through the dialogues written by Plato.

Plato's dialogues present Socrates as the central character and main interlocutor in many conversations, through which philosophical concepts are explored and ethical, political and metaphysical questions are addressed.

However, it is important to note that Although Plato used Socrates as a philosophical character in his dialogues, It cannot be assumed that all ideas and arguments presented by Socrates in the Platonic dialogues are identical to Socrates' historical beliefs. Plato often used Socrates to express his own philosophical ideas and theories.

This is the reason why many times, instead of talking about Socrates, we talk about the platonic Socratesto refer to the character in Plato's dialogues, and not to the historical character, of whom there are only indirect testimonies.

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References

• Guthrie, W. (1988). History of Greek Philosophy, vol. IV. Plato, the man and his dialogues: first period. Gredos.
• Guthrie, W. (1988). History of Greek Philosophy, vol. V. Plato, second period and the Academy. Gredos.
• Guthrie, W. (1994). History of Greek Philosophy, Vol III. 5th century. Illustration. Gredos.
• Guthrie, W. (1953). The Greek philosophers. From Thales to Aristotle. FCE.