Socrates - Philosophy in Ancient Greece

Philosophy in ancient Greece was merely a type of argument, until

a pioneer named Socrates showed the world a new way of thinking.

Socrates was born in 469 BC in Athens (where he lived all his life) as

the son of Sophroniscus, a stonemason, and Phaenarete. In his life,

Socrates changed common philosophy, which was a study of why the way

things are, into a consideration of the virtue and health of the human

soul. Rather than writing books and recording his thoughts himself, he

orally passed on his thoughts to many young people of his time, one of

which is Plato. Socrates felt so strongly bout his beliefs, that he

lived by them, and in doing so, became the first martyr in history to die

for philosophical beliefs. By teaching Plato his concepts and beliefs,

Socrates greatly influenced Western thought and philosophy.

Socrates' thoughts were more associated with man, instead of

nature and man's surroundings. He also lead discussions about man's

feelings, soul, and actions. Philosophers before Socrates speculated

about the natural universe, but Socrates made them realize their absence

of any agreed standard of truth. In doing so, he gave philosophers a

common ground to base their thoughts on. Also, he felt that man is good

in nature but can produce wrong. For example, "Socrates believed that to

do wrong is to damage one's soul, and that is the worst thing one can

do"(Grolier). From this he concluded that one should never return wrong,

and it is worse to do wrong than to be wronged. Socrates felt that

revenge was evil and would bring a man to his downfall. It was his

belief that self-conscious philosophy with correct morals would produce

worthy results.

Socrates influenced Western thought through his unique method of

thinking. Socrates introduced a concern for detailed method in thought,

and added an interest of logic in argument.

Socrates stressed that if man could retain knowledge than he should be

able to give definitions and details. These details should be used in

argument as a reason for many thoughts. Socrates also believed in a

unity of virtues, and that they all lead to knowledge. In his arguments

Socrates always insisted on a definition that universally covers it's

subject. This insight showed reason in thinking, not just arguing

without