Spring Break
Column: Honor, Self-Development According to Socrates
Daniel Faggella
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
04/15/09 - What better philosopher to honor in our initial article than the man argued to be the origin of Western philosophy: Socrates.
Despite his often being celebrated as the greatest of the ancient Greek philosophers, little is known of Socrates himself, and partially because he left no personal records.
What is known is that he was born in 469 B.C. in Athens. Other than being the son of a sculptor, and a foot-soldier, few facts remain of his life before philosophy.
In the middle portion of his life, Socrates devoted himself completely to the philosophical practice he is best known for, which for him did not involve opening up a school - but open, philosophical conversation and inquiry.
Not known for being a handsome or particularly hygienic man, he would stroll through Athens, speaking with absolutely everyone about absolutely everything.
His quest was as much to learn as to teach, and though he frequently brought people to realize the ignorance in their assumptions, he was not one to claim the answers to the infinite and important questions of life.
In the year 400 B.C., he was convicted of corrupting the minds of the youth with his antics, and was sentenced to death by hemlock poison.
As a testament to his own virtues, Socrates drank the poison without fear, consoling his friends before his own eminent death. As the teacher of Plato, an educator of his entire community, and an inspiration for great thinkers to this day, his impact was certainly not cut off as quickly as his life.
Socrates is revered for his wisdom and his dedication to philosophy as a mode of examining our lives. Many of his recorded quotes deal with admirably living our daily lives.
I found this one to be particularly interesting:
"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be."
The statement that the wise Greek puts forth here has to do with our will, our ideals and our intent.
Despite his often being celebrated as the greatest of the ancient Greek philosophers, little is known of Socrates himself, and partially because he left no personal records.
What is known is that he was born in 469 B.C. in Athens. Other than being the son of a sculptor, and a foot-soldier, few facts remain of his life before philosophy.
In the middle portion of his life, Socrates devoted himself completely to the philosophical practice he is best known for, which for him did not involve opening up a school - but open, philosophical conversation and inquiry.
Not known for being a handsome or particularly hygienic man, he would stroll through Athens, speaking with absolutely everyone about absolutely everything.
His quest was as much to learn as to teach, and though he frequently brought people to realize the ignorance in their assumptions, he was not one to claim the answers to the infinite and important questions of life.
In the year 400 B.C., he was convicted of corrupting the minds of the youth with his antics, and was sentenced to death by hemlock poison.
As a testament to his own virtues, Socrates drank the poison without fear, consoling his friends before his own eminent death. As the teacher of Plato, an educator of his entire community, and an inspiration for great thinkers to this day, his impact was certainly not cut off as quickly as his life.
Socrates is revered for his wisdom and his dedication to philosophy as a mode of examining our lives. Many of his recorded quotes deal with admirably living our daily lives.
I found this one to be particularly interesting:
"The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be."
The statement that the wise Greek puts forth here has to do with our will, our ideals and our intent.
Be the first to comment on this story