Socrates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Socrates - Essay Example Socrates was truly one of the few philosophers in history to make a significant attempt to question and fundamentally change the methods and paradigms of philosophical examination. Although most of our current knowledge of Socrates comes down to us from second-hand sources, the nature of Socrates’ life as a man and as a philosopher seem to shine as brightly for any one man in throughout the course of history (Nails). Socrates’ trial and death seemingly mark the birth of philosophy—with his influence stretching far beyond the boundaries of the tradition. Socrates, as the founder of a grand tradition, exemplifies a life to many which is paradigmatic for the contemplative rational being. It is to this grand figure that we now turn an explorative eye, in order to grasp the truth about the man and the philosopher. The question is whether one must know the man first to get to know the philosopher, or to know the philosopher first to get to know the man. The arguments for either approach are compelling: in one respect, Socrates was a human being completely devoted to a life of contemplation and a search for truth—thus making him fundamentally a philosopher. But, as Aristotle would say, the existence of a philosopher is predicated of the existence of man, for without there being a man, there would be no philosopher. Accordingly, we will follow the second approach: to broach the topic of Socratic philosophy from the backside—getting straight the facts of Socrates’ life, and then moving on to the facts which define his contributions to philosophy as a whole. According to Socrates, and fellow critics, the governance of Athens had become crooked and disgracefully inept—in stark contrast to the Age of Pericles only a few years before. â€Å"Philosophical† quarrels had become mere demagoguery: ploys to convince others; aspirations for political power slowly supplanted justice.