The Life of Socrates :: Ancient Rome Roman History

The Life of SocratesI. Socrates The most elicit and influential thinker in the fifth century was Socrates, whose dedication to advertent reasoning transformed the entire enterprise. Since he sought genuine companionship rather than mere victory over an opponent, He familiarized himself with the ornateness and dialectics of the Sophists, the speculations of the Lonian philosophers, and the general culture of Periclean Athens. Socrates employed the same logical tricks developed by the Sophists to a new purpose, the pursuit of truth. Thus, his willingness to call everything into question and his determination to lease nothing less than an adequate account of the nature of things make him the archetypal clear exponent of critical philosophy. Although he was well kn throw during his own time for his conversational skills and public teaching, Socrates wrote nothing, so we are dependent upon his students (especially Kenophon and Plato) for any(prenominal) detailed knowledge of his me thods and results. The trouble is that Plato was himself a philosopher who often injected his own theories into the dialogues he presented to the world as discussions between Socrates and other famous figures of the day. Nevertheless, it is usually put on that at least the early dialogues of Plato provide a (fairly) accurate theatrical of Socrates himself. Socrates profoundly affected Western philosophy through his influence on Plato. Born in Athens, the son of Sophroniscus, a sculptor, and Phaenarete, a midwife, he authorized the regular elementary education in literature, music, and gymnastics. Initially, Socrates followed the craft of his father correspond to a former tradition, he executed a statue group of the terzetto Graces, which stood at the entrance to the Acropolis until the 2nd century AD. In the Peloponnesian warfare with Sparta he served as an infantryman with conspicuous bravery at the battles of Potidaea in 432-430BC, Delium in 424BC, and Amphipolis in 422BC. Soc rates believed in the superiority of argument over pen and therefore spent the greater part of his mature lifespan in the marketplace and public places of Athens, engaging in dialogue and argument with anyone who would get a line or who would submit to interrogation. Socrates was reportedly unattractive in appearance and hornswoggle of stature but was also extremely hardy and self-controlled. He enjoyed life immensely and achieved social popularity because of his ready wit and a keen palpate of humor that was completely devoid of satire or cynicism. II. Attitude Toward governing Socrates attitude toward politics was obedient, but generally steered clear of politics, restrained by what he believed to be divine warning.