Socrates was an ancient Greek Athenian philosopher known mainly through the accounts and writings of his students, namely Plato and Aristotle. The wisdom of Socrates is depicted numerous times in the dialogues written by Plato. All the Socratic dialogues – Euthyphro, Apology, and Crito – illustrated Socrates’ form of inquiry and discussion between individuals with opposing viewpoints based on asking and answering questions to encourage critical thinking and to clarify ideas.
It is an examination method, involving two oppositional topics in which the defense of one point of view is pitted against the defense of another. It may lead to one participant contradicting himself in some way, thus strengthening the inquirer’s point of view. In the dialogue between Socrates and Euthyphro, Socrates demonstrated his being self-reflective and unyielding inquisition until he finds satisfaction on his opponents’ answers. He asked a series of questions about the meaning of being pious and impious, of love and be loved, and the state of becoming, and implication of action and passion.
He praised Melitus, his accuser, for showing a good deal of character, for being a very wise and caring person, and starting his career the way every responsible citizen should – by taking care of the young and protecting them from their destroyers. If he will succeed, Melitus will be doing the same to the elderly and will make him a great benefactor of his country. For him to become such an extraordinary man, he surely made great advances to seek knowledge and wisdom. “ For a man is wise when he begins to impart his wisdom to others,” until then people become angry and jealous.
The Essay on Analysis Of A Socratic Dialogue
... he is of great wisdom as is Hippias, but Socrates knows when he can over match someone. The dialogue now begins to go ... more exasperated with him as they go along. Socrates further on into the dialogue becomes a little more detailed with one example ... are of the same. The dialogue begins with Hippias and Socrates having a friendly conversation of intellect. Socrates wants to know who is ...
Socrates believed that the first step to knowledge is recognition of one’s ignorance – knowing you know nothing. In Plato’s Apology, Socrates and his friend, Chaerephon, went to Delphi and asked the Phythian Prophetess whether “anyone is wiser than Socrates,” of which the Oracle replied “there was no man wiser. ” Socrates believed that he lacks knowledge and wisdom, and that there are other people in Athens who are wiser and knowledgeable than him. To prove the Oracle wrong, he went out to examine the people he thought are wiser and knowledgeable than him – the politicians, poets, and the artisans.
Socrates investigations revealed that those who claimed to have knowledge really knew nothing or knew less than what they claimed; that some inferior men were really wiser and better, for example the herdsman who accused the father of Euthypro. Socrates believed that the first step to knowledge is recognition of one’s ignorance – knowing you know nothing. In Crito, Socrates pointed out that opinions of many cannot make a man wise or foolish, as whatever they do is the result of chance. Reasons must guide opinions. For Socrates, opinions of good men are the only one worth considering until a better principle is found.
In conclusion, developing Socratic wisdom starts with recognizing we know nothing about a certain matter, acknowledging that there man is no wiser than God. If we know nothing, we need to ask and investigate, examine, not focusing on proving your point, but disproving the other’s point with a series of questions until no more questions left to be ask. Start with simple questions, and not to move on until you are satisfied with the result. Be observant and seek for advancement in knowledge while you are young. Be of good virtue, pious and just and obey the laws. Finally, share your knowledge and wisdom for the betterment of other people.
