Socrates : Man of Knowledge

Socrates was the most colorful figure in the history of ancient philosophy. His fame was widespread in his own time. Socrates name soon became a household word although he professed no extraordinary wisdom, constructed no philosophical system, established no school, and founded no sect. The Greek philosopher and logician, Socrates, was an important formative influence on Plato and had a profound effect on ancient philosophy.

Dear Journal,

From what I can recollect from my past and present, I was born into middle class family. I am the bearing young of Sophrinicus, who has the vocation of stone masonry and sculpture. My mother, Phaenarate, is a non-professional mid-wife. From the day I was brought forth into this world I was taught to learn my father's craft. I practiced it for many years before devoting myself completely to intellectual interests. My elementary education is only Greek, whereas I am beginning a keen engrossment in the works of natural philosophers. In addition to that, I take gymnastics and music which is a course to train my body and mind. I enjoy wearing the same outfit everyday and exposing my bare feet to guide me along the path of life.

Dear Diary,

I was told by Alcibiades today that I fall into trances while in deep thought. He described it to me yesterday's incident as he followed me. Yesterday morn, I wandered a short distance from my friends to concentrate on a problem. By noon a small crowd had gathered, and by evening a group had come with their bedding to spend the night watching me. Then at the break of day, I offered a prayer to the sun and went about my usual activities, like nothing had happened . It doesn't ever occur to me that I do this. But the voice of God has guided me to safety when I go astray. I believe that man can only best develop his personality by following the famous quote " Know thyself" .

Dear Ledger,

I am widely known for my manner of argumentation a.k.a. "The Socratic Method," where irony is a key factor. In my words, the Socratic Method of argumentation begins with the common place of questioning, which leads the opponent to believe that the questioner is a simpleton, but ends in the exact opposite. My chief contributions lie not in the construction of such an elaborate system but in clearing away the false common beliefs and in leading men to an awareness of their own ignorance, from which position they may begin to discover the truth. I am aware of my own ignorance but, I believe that I have a mission in life to make all men aware of the limitations and defects in their beliefs and consequently knowing themselves, to prepare for knowledge.

Dear Annals,

I am now an older man and a philosopher. I started with the ideas of Pythagoras, Parmenides, Heraclitis, Anatogoras, Anaximander, Zeno and many others only to grow into the studies of the Natures of the Universe. Right now, I am combining my interests in ethics and the philosophy of politics with a faith in the capacity of the mind to clarify itself by working out the inconsistencies in various notions through my conversational techniques . My conversational tours are only found in Athens, Greece where I have lived all of my years. My companions are my students and I do not choose to make written records of my teachings.

Dear Confidant,

I was faced with a rather disturbing inquisition today. It was on an issue of social status. The problem was based on whether or not lower class kinsmen are considered as honorable as the high class people are. My views on this were that no one should be placed on a social status. I feel great disdain for those who regard their social standing better than others. All men and women alike should be treated the same no matter what the secular attributes they were born into and raised in.

Dear Colleague,

Through the many years we have been together I have never been more woeful. I have been placed on a death bed, realized as an insightful object. I am a corrupter of the city's youth and have been charged as a collaborator and have refused to be implicated in their crimes. My conviction was based on a decision of my enemies from over the time. My defense speech was not in the least conciliatory. I proposed that the accusations were false and that the city should honor me as they did the Olympic victors. "Nobody knows, in fact, what death is, nor whether to man it is not perchance the greatest of all blessings; yet people fear it as if they surely knew it to be the worst of evils." Here I lie convicted and sentenced to death for my beliefs and ideas. My friends have asked me to escape into exile but I chose to drink of the hemlock instead.

If Socrates would be alive today, he would practice what he preaches. His belief in an non-status society would pave the way for today's debate on privatization of our country's schools. He felt that all should have the opportunity to be the best they could be. This could be provided by the state allowing for all to have access to knowledge, no matter their means. His theory on education was that ideas or knowledge should not just be learned but that answers should be searched for by individuals. Socrates, as great and respected thinker and philosopher would have provided a great influence in the outcome of this debate.

Socrates is famous for his questioning method, for his belief that if one knows the good he will seek it, for his theory of knowledge as the recollection of ideas, for his conception of the soul and his attempted proofs of the soul's immortality, and for the theory of ideas. He is also remembered as much for his courage and his clear idealism as for his philosophy, and he remains one of the greatest figures in Western History.