When1: -440
When2: -399
Who: Socrates
What: philosopher
Where: Athens, Greece
Detail: He lived -470 to -399 and emphasized moderation, friendship, and courage. He claimed he knew nothing. He criticized Sophists for word play, smugness, paradox, imitation, and failing to examine their ideas.
Epistemology
Knowledge need be only about practical life and relations with others. All other knowledge is unnecessary to live proper life.
Truth is absolute. No one can know final truth or have real knowledge, and obtaining this insight is the beginning of knowledge {Socratic irony, Socrates}.
Concept is the common part among perceptions or opinions about something. To reveal concept essence, clarify perceptions and opinions and make them consistent. Socrates did this using inductive argument. He questioned others, got them to agree on facts, drew out definitions, found contradictions and fallacies, found incomplete ideas and completed them, ended false beliefs, obtained understanding, and reached agreed conclusions {Socratic method, Socrates} {method of elenchus, Socrates} {method of refutation, Socrates}.
Socratic method modified Sophist debating contests.
Ethics
Absolute good exists. The good is what is useful, profitable, or suited to the purpose in subject or activity.
The good requires conformity to law even if law is unjust. People must suffer wrong rather than do wrong to overcome suffering.
Knowledge teaches what is good and then proper action {virtue, Socrates} always follows, because doing good is the most advantageous for one's interests and purposes. "Knowledge is virtue." If one has knowledge, one automatically does the good, so no one does wrong intentionally {Socratic paradox}. Error causes doing wrong.
Seeking knowledge, and especially self-knowledge, is an ethical duty, because it leads to virtue. Self-examination and questioning give self-knowledge. "Know thyself." People can make themselves be excellent and function well {arete}.
Friendship is helping each other to be better.
Fear of death is not wise, because death can be greater good, such as eternal dreamless sleep or new world for immortal soul. However, no soul or life exists after death.
Inner voice warns people when not to do something, especially about things too hard for knowledge.
Social Sciences>Philosophy>History>Epistemology
6-Philosophy-History-Epistemology
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0224