Socrates was a classical Greek Athenian philosopher. Credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy, he is an enigmatic figure known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students Plato and Xenophon and the plays of his contemporary Aristophanes. Many would claim that Plato's dialogues are the most comprehensive accounts of Socrates to survive from antiquity.
Questions tagged [socrates]
124 questions
36
votes
5 answers
Was Socrates a fictional character invented by Plato?
I have read a lot of websites that suggest Socrates was a fictional character created by Plato (albeit without the citation of any corroborating evidence), but I have also read the opposite (and by "opposite" here I don't mean that Plato was created…
Garmen1778
- 833
- 2
- 8
- 9
21
votes
6 answers
Are the unexamined lives of others worth examining?
Socrates continually admonished his interlocutors to become more introspective, arguing passionately for self-examination:
The unexamined life is not worth living.
But an examined life is painful, and necessitates an involvement with real…
Joseph Weissman
- 9,432
- 8
- 47
- 86
17
votes
3 answers
Are all philosophers subject to a variation of the Socrates problem?
Obviously, the specific problem of knowing who Socrates was and what he taught is wholly unique to the man. However, reading books and articles about philosophers and philosophy, I'm struck by the occasions when later commentators disagree about…
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson
- 7,109
- 4
- 36
- 67
12
votes
4 answers
Is there a correct or better order to read Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates?
I would like to read the text written by Aristotle, Plato, Socrates and so on. Is there any reference of the best order to read them? Is the chronological order the best or correct one? Or is there a best or correct order?
The Student
- 345
- 2
- 3
- 13
12
votes
2 answers
What was Socrates/Plato's view on free-will?
Socrates (or, rather Plato, through the voice of Socrates) leads us to the conclusion in the dialog Protagoras (see this for example) that our actions are entirely determined by our beliefs of what is the good, and our beliefs of what is the good is…
James Kingsbery
- 5,919
- 1
- 18
- 41
11
votes
3 answers
Who is Plato and Socrates' God?
I'm reading the Phaedo, as translated by Benjamin Jowett. The characters alternately mention "God" (As a monotheist would spell it with a capital "G"), for example, at one point, Socrates says:
Then there may be reason in saying that a man should…
Alexander S King
- 26,984
- 5
- 64
- 187
11
votes
1 answer
Why was Socratic epistemology diminished?
My question is a follow-up from reading this answer;
"Roughly speaking, Socrates believed truth could not be discovered with certainty, Plato believed that truth could only be known via recollection, and Aristotle believed that truth could be…
Jas 3.1
- 577
- 2
- 11
11
votes
5 answers
What makes a good question?
Most philosophy begins with a question. I'm wondering why certain questions provoke more profound thoughts than others. What characteristics do good questions share with each other? How can we go about finding worthy problems to seek solving?
For…
john
- 534
- 4
- 11
11
votes
3 answers
Does Apology's Socrates contradict Crito's Socrates?
In Plato's Apology Socrates clearly indicates he would continue to philosophize even if the court ordered him not to:
if now, when, as I conceive and imagine, God orders me to fulfil the philosopher’s mission of searching into myself and other men,…
Emryss
- 111
- 1
- 5
10
votes
1 answer
Does Nietzsche's rejection of Socrates mean that he is a relativist about ethics?
In Twilight of Idols (passage 10 in Problem of Socrates section) Nietzsche asserts that Socrates's equating Reason, Virtue and Happiness is a sign of decadence.
Does it follow from this that Nietzsche is a relativist about ethics? How would he…
Frank Booth
- 596
- 3
- 18
10
votes
6 answers
Was Socrates a monotheist?
I know my question seems weird, but in Plato's books Apology, Crito, and Phaedo (and probably in other books since I've read only these three and I am in the middle of the third one), when Socrates wants to swear in a god's name or talk about…
mil
- 559
- 2
- 6
- 15
10
votes
5 answers
What were the government ideals for the Socrates and Aristotle?
Winston Churchill famously quipped, "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." Plato also seems to have held such a view, where he wrote in The Republic that "philosopher kings" should lead…
stoicfury
- 11,548
- 7
- 42
- 79
9
votes
5 answers
Did Plato record actual conversations in his dialogues?
For example, Did Socrates really meet Zeno in Parmenides as a young man and the conversation that took place between them was recorded by Plato?
Are ANY of Plato's dialogues recordings of actual conversations?
Parmenides
- 91
- 1
- 2
8
votes
2 answers
Does the Euthyphro dilemma apply to secular ethics?
The original statement of the dilemma is found in Plato's Euthyphro:
Just consider this question:—Is that which is holy loved by the gods because it is holy, or is it holy because it is loved by the gods? (10a)
According to Wikipedia, the question…
Jon 'links in bio' Ericson
- 7,109
- 4
- 36
- 67
8
votes
5 answers
Why is Nietzsche so against Socrates?
Nietzsche recalls the story that Socrates says that 'he has been a long time sick', meaning that life itself is a sickness; Nietszche accuses him of being a sick man, a man against the instincts of life, and hence a 'monstro animo' (a monstrous…
Mozibur Ullah
- 1
- 14
- 88
- 234