Socrates, The Philosopher Of Western Philosophy - 1525 Words

Socrates; the founder of Western Philosophy, the first user of the Socratic method and Socratic irony, contributor to the field of ethics, and martyr for teaching what he thought was right. Indeed, Socrates is a household name, yet the picture many hold of Socrates may not be true to who Socrates actually was. Socrates considered himself a teacher and a thinker, not a writer, thus he wrote none of his teachings or thoughts down. As a consequence, the only surviving accounts of Socrates come second hand from his pupils, Plato and Xenophon, and from the playwright Aristophanes. However, it is difficult to tell how much of the Socrates depicted in the works of those men is embellishment or outright fabrication, and how much is truth. This problem, the Socratic Problem, has been troubling historians and philosophers for centuries, and will go on doing so. While the real Socrates may never be known, Socrates the character may be studied extensively through the works of his pupils. Platoâ €™s Symposium depicts Socrates in an informal setting, getting drunk with friends, and offers an opportunity to see Socrates’ character and personality more clearly. While Symposium is set at a party, Socrates is still shown to be a larger-than-life, idealized character, who may have been too brilliant and perfect to be true. Like Plato’s other works, such as Republic and Apology, when Socrates is on the page, he is engaged in a dialogue with somebody else. Thus, Socrates is primarily depicted asShow MoreRelatedGreek Philosophy And The Greek Creation1593 Words   |  7 Pages The word â€Å"philosophy†, comes from the Ancient Greek word (Phileo), meaning â€Å"to love† or â€Å"to befriend† and (Sophia), meaning â€Å"wisdom†; making philosophy stand for â€Å"the love of wisdom†. Philosophy is about understanding the fundamental truths about ourselves, the world in which we live in, and our relationships to the world and am ongst each other. It is the study of general problems connected with existence, values, language, and mind. Those who study philosophy (philosophers), engage in askingRead MoreGreek And Classical Greek Philosophy997 Words   |  4 Pages Classical Greek Philosophy A philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, esp. when considered as an academic discipline. Greece was divided into several city-states, which ran separately and independent from each other. However, they shared commonalities, such as common ancestry, language, and festivals. Foreigners were all considered barbarians to the Greek. Greek Culture is reflected in today s Society in many ways. These ways include mathematicsRead MoreEssay on Comparison of Eastern and Western Philosophers803 Words   |  4 Pages[Comparison of Eastern and Western Philosophers ] Comparison of Eastern and Western Philosophers I will compare the Western philosopher Socrates to the Eastern philosopher Lao Tzu. 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Western philosophy is associated with Ancient Greek, Roman, Western Europe, and later on, the Americas’ process of thought. Being that we are predominantly influenced by this field of philosophy (due to our location) it is essential that we must understand the beginnings and the evolution of this ideology. Western philosophy has developedRead MoreHow Did Ancient Greece Influence Western Civilization1291 Words   |  6 Pagesused today. The ancient Greeks advances in these subjects, influenced and contributed to the Western civilization. The Western civilization’s culture and outlook on life was shaped by ancient Greek. Many things the ancient Greeks created were the basis for what we use today, including, architecture, art, dr amas, math, science, and philosophy. The ancient Greeks have made many contributions to Western civilization in the areas of architecture, art, and dramas. For example the ancient Greeks believedRead MoreSocrates, Plato, And Aristotle900 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is philosophy? Philosophy is formalized systematic presentations of thoughts on the nature of being or existence. It’s a profound study of beliefs and the grounds for them. It’s the study that seeks to understand the mystery of existence. Because the subject is so controversial, the term cannot exactly be defined. There are many philosophers 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