How Did Socrates Go About Trying To Find Truth?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Believed that if he asked enough people, he would find out the truth. Developed the Socratic method — trying to find truth by asking and answering questions . Accused and found guilty of corrupting young minds. Sentenced to death by drinking hemlock (poison).

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What did Socrates believe about absolute truth?

The Ideas of Socrates

He left no writings behind, and what we know about him comes from the writings of his students. Socrates believed that absolute truth existed and that all real knowledge was within each person. All it would take to get that knowledge out was a series of questions.

What did Socrates believe about truth and justice?

For Socrates, justice is inseparable from ethical commitment to truth . He gave up his life in the name of truth and justice. We will explore the meaning of the “internal”, “external” dichotomy of truth. The proffered meaning of this dichotomy of truth will be considered from the point of view of African philosophy.

What are Socrates beliefs?

Philosophy. Socrates believed that philosophy should achieve practical results for the greater well-being of society . He attempted to establish an ethical system based on human reason rather than theological doctrine. Socrates pointed out that human choice was motivated by the desire for happiness.

How did Socrates define philosophy?

What is philosophy according to Socrates? Philosophy is an academic subject that exercises reason and logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer fundamental questions about knowledge, life, morality, virtue, and human nature.

How did Socrates differ from the sophists on the question of justice and truth?

The main differences between the Sophist and Socrates were their views on absolute truth . ... Socrates understands that the practice of “sophism” leads to a lack of self-knowledge and moral values. Socrates was later accused of corrupting the youth of Athens and put on trial.

Do you agree with Socrates that there are absolute standards for truth?

5.3 Do you agree with Socrates that there are absolute standards for truth and justice? Why or why not? Yes—Clearly there are universal standards that everyone can agree upon .

What is truth according to philosophers?

truth, in metaphysics and the philosophy of language, the property of sentences, assertions, beliefs, thoughts, or propositions that are said, in ordinary discourse, to agree with the facts or to state what is the case .

What are 5 facts about Socrates?

  1. He was of middle economic status. ...
  2. He made money from teaching. ...
  3. No belief in religion. ...
  4. He died by hemlock poisoning. ...
  5. He did not leave any recorded teachings behind. ...
  6. Famous teacher. ...
  7. Know thyself.

How does Socrates affect us today?

His determination to only accept the absolute truth with reasoning make him the first clear person in critical philosophy. Over the centuries and even today a lot of decisions are made under emotional judgement rather than reasoning.

How does Socrates finally interpret the message of the oracle?

Though many bystanders take Socrates to be an expert in the fields in which he questions others, Socrates denies any expertise, and interprets the oracle as saying that the wisest of men are men like Socrates who humbly accept that their wisdom is deficient.

Why was Socrates famed for his wisdom?

The politician that Socrates had spoken to believed that he was wise, and he knew enough to have earned a reputation for wisdom . Yet Socrates found, in conversation with the man, that he consistently overestimated the extent of his knowledge and wisdom.

What is Socrates best known for?

Socrates of Athens (l. c. 470/469-399 BCE) is among the most famous figures in world history for his contributions to the development of ancient Greek philosophy which provided the foundation for all of Western Philosophy. He is, in fact, known as the “Father of Western Philosophy” for this reason.

What kind of knowledge did Socrates think was the best?

At the trial, Socrates says, “The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing.” Socrates put emphasis on knowledge all his life because he believed that “the ability to distinguish between right and wrong lies in people’s reason not in society.” Learning was the only thing, Socrates was concerned about ...

What did Sophists believe about truth?

While Socrates looked for objective and eternal truths the Sophists were promoting ideas of relativism and subjectivism , wherein each person decides for him or herself what the true and the good and the beautiful are.

How does Socrates distinguish himself from the Sophists?

Socrates distinguishes himself from natural philosophers like Anaxagoras (what we would today call scientists). ... Socrates claims to not have the kind of knowledge that the Sophists profess to have and points out that he does not take money to teach anyone anything.

How was Socrates similar to the Sophists?

Both the Sophists and Socrates belong to the same line of profession which is teaching but the main difference is that the Sophists charge a good fee for the learning they provide . The sophists have a vanity that they turn people wiser. But Socrates does not take money for his efforts.

Which of Alexander’s conquests do u think was the most significant?

Which of Alexander’s conquest do you think was the most significant? When he conquered Persia , it is the largest amount of land and placed the most threat to the Macedonians.

What do you think was the greatest scientific advance of the Hellenistic period Why?

The greatest scientific advancement of the Hellenistic period is the discovery of geometry . This is a discovery that had not only helped in astronomical calculations, but also helped in creating architecture.

Do you agree with Socrates definition of justice?

Socrates never positively states what justice is in the human soul/city ; it appears he has created a city where justice is not found, but can be lost. It is as though in a well-ordered state, justice is not even needed, since the community satisfies the needs of humans.

How does logic relate to truth?

Logic leads from one point to another within its own self connected system. Truth is a fact . Truth is a location, logic is a map. So if logic is sound and based on truth, all conclusions reached by the logic should be true.

What is truth according to Nietzsche?

Truth is the kind of error without which a certain species could not live . The value. for life is ultimately decisive. [ 12, §493] For Nietzsche, to hold a claim to be true is to endorse it.

How do we find truth?

Objective truth is discovered by a search which is critical of our experiences until sufficient evidence has been gathered . The subjective truth is not always in opposition to the objective truth, but it does depend on the subject valuing their worldview more than others’.

Why can’t Socrates hold his tongue?

He couldn’t hold his tongue, he explained, because it would be disobeying a command by God : “the greatest human good is daily discussion about virtue (and of those other things about which you hear me examining myself and others), and that the unexamined life is not worth living.” In this quotation we find Socrates’ ...

Does Socrates believe in God?

Socrates: Early Years

Socrates was born and lived nearly his entire life in Athens. ... Although he never outright rejected the standard Athenian view of religion, Socrates’ beliefs were nonconformist . He often referred to God rather than the gods, and reported being guided by an inner divine voice.

What type of questions did Socrates ask?

  • Clarifying concepts. ...
  • Probing assumptions. ...
  • Probing rationale, reasons and evidence. ...
  • Questioning viewpoints and perspectives. ...
  • Probing implications and consequences. ...
  • Questioning the question.

How did Socrates change philosophy?

Socrates’ most important contribution to Western philosophy was his technique for arguing a point, known as the Socratic technique , which he applied to many things such as truth and justice. ... The Socratic technique is a negative strategy for gradually disproving unwanted theories, leaving you with the most logical one.

Did Socrates preferred exile to death?

Socrates preferred exile to death . Socrates thought that the primary occupation of a good citizen should be the pursuit of wealth and prestige. According to Socrates, we should always consider in doing anything whether we are doing right or wrong. An argument is not synonymous with persuasion.

What was Socrates response to the oracle?

His reputation as a philosopher, literally meaning ‘a lover of wisdom’, soon spread all over Athens and beyond. When told that the Oracle of Delphi had revealed to one of his friends that Socrates was the wisest man in Athens, he responded not by boasting or celebrating, but by trying to prove the Oracle wrong.

Did Socrates believe in freedom of speech?

The Athenian love of free speech allowed Socrates to cajole and criticize his fellow citizens for the whole of his long life but gave way—though just barely—when it was put under great pressure.

Is there a modern day Socrates?

Apart from Jesus, the ancient Athenian philosopher Socrates (lived c. 470 – 399 BCE) is possibly the one person who lived in ancient times who is most widely venerated today . Many people see him as a figure who is worthy of contemporary emulation.

What do you think was the main point Socrates was trying to make when he told the story about his experiences with the Oracle of Delphi?

What was the main point Socrates made by telling the story about the oracle of Delphi? The oracle told socrates that he is the wisest man in Athens and this is what started his career in fulfilling his philosophy. This is what made him so wise because he claimed to know nothing.

What did the oracle say about Socrates?

The Oracle of Delphi, which found the sum of human wisdom in the expression “ Know thyself ,” also said that there was no man wiser than Socrates, from which one might conclude that no man knew himself better than Socrates.

Where did Socrates get his wisdom from?

Socrates’ wisdom comes from acknowledging that he does not know what he does not know , and his acknowledgment that he does not know what awaits him in the afterlife leads him not to fear it. A fear of death, then, is just another kind of false wisdom, of claiming to know the unknowable.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.