Socrates Flashcards
Socrates
470 BC - 399 BC
How did Socrates respond to questions?
With more questions - he wanted people to think for themselves
Was Socrates around before or after Christ?
Before - he was a pre-Christian thinker
What was Socrates thought to be the founder of?
Western philosophy
A quote of Socrates demonstrating Socratic irony
‘I am wiser than anyone else, because I know…that I know nothing.’
What does Socrates believe true wisdom is?
That you know how little you know
What was Socrates tried and charged for?
For having disbelief in the Gods and corrupting the young
What was the charge Socrates faced as a result of his corruption of the youth?
He was sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning. He could have gone into exile, but refused to do this. The death of Socrates is seen as heroic, because he valued his conscience higher than his life.
Why is Socrates’ death seen as heroic?
He died for his values. He could have chosen to go into exile, but did not because he valued his conscience higher than his life = powerful, heroic.
Who did Socrates teach?
Plato
How do we know about Socrates?
Through his student, Plato. Plato wrote dialogues in which Socrates was the main character.
Was Socrates a rationalist or empiricist?
Rationalist
Why are Plato’s dialogues possibly not the most accurate in showing us what Socrates’ discussions were like?
Plato respected Socrates a lot and idolises him, always making him come out on top from arguments and giving him the last word. Historians have questioned how much of this has been changed, for we cannot be sure that the words Socrates speaks in the dialogues were ever actually said by him.
Socratic irony
A pose of ignorance assumed in order to entice others into making statements that can then be challenged.
Quote of Socrates about life
‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ - There is no point if you’re not constantly questioning and trying to find the truth
