Religious Education Support - SLSS

1. Religious Education Support - SLSS 1 Socrates Who was he? What were his key ideas?

2. Religious Education Support - SLSS 2 Socrates Born around 470 B.C.E. Lived in Athens at the height if its civilisation Executed in 399 B.C.E. Saw Athens was in danger of destruction Became critical of the government Described as a very ugly man, who often walked barefoot and wore the same kind of clothes whatever the weather

3. Religious Education Support - SLSS 3 Socrates Cont. Excellent soldier � he had great physical power and could endure a lot He was very disciplined He was interested in the development of a person�s moral character He lived a virtuous life

4. Religious Education Support - SLSS 4 Socrates� Outlook Saw that the Sophists were putting Athens in danger Said their theory of relativity would destroy the people � morally corrupt People were not happy � likely to revolt He became critical of the government He spoke out against the sophists Said there had to be a better way

5. Religious Education Support - SLSS 5 Socrates, the Philosopher Concerned with the question of ethics Unlike the Sophists, he believed that there was definite right and wrong He believed that people could accept it and incorporate it into their lives He said that it was up to people (society) as a whole to establish those things that are right and those that are wrong Dedicated his life to searching for standards by which people could live a virtuous life

6. Religious Education Support - SLSS 6 How he differed from Sophists� Socrates believed that the sophists view on relativity would destroy the people of Athens His style was distinctive

7. Religious Education Support - SLSS 7 Socratic Method His style was distinctive He questioned people through discussions / dialogues Chose people who were experts in their field and fully understood the topic being discussed. He adopted the role of ignorant questioner. Pretended he did not know and wanted to be educated He asked tactful questions which would bring the experts to a dead end � they would run out of answers This showed them, and others that they did not have all the answers and so were not experts.

8. Religious Education Support - SLSS 8 Universal Definition of Justice Socrates was concerned with justice He wanted life to be fair for all Worked to find principles and laws that all could live by and be happy Universal: these truths would be applicable for all people, at any time, everywhere and in all cases. Socrates spent his life trying to establish this, but never did.

9. Religious Education Support - SLSS 9 Why?? Through the dialogues Socrates wanted to discover peoples� views on living a moral and just life Socrates developed his own understanding and philosophy through this process Urged people to question what they are being told as well as their beliefs

10. Religious Education Support - SLSS 10 Cont. The aim of these philosophical dialogues was to discover the truth about how one should live a good and moral life He himself learned through this process Encouraged others to question their beliefs and knowledge

11. Religious Education Support - SLSS 11 Questions he asked: What is temperance? What is justice? What is goodness? These were asked during a discussion, if someone were to present one of these concepts as part of their answer. He did not answer the questions himself � said his wisdom was limited to an awareness of his own ignorance

12. Religious Education Support - SLSS 12 Socratic Philosophy Many of Socrates� beliefs have been characterized as �paradoxal� (seem to conflict with common sense). For Example No one desires evil. No one does wrong willingly or knowingly. Virtue - all virtue - is knowledge. Virtue is sufficient for happiness He believed wrongdoing was a consequence of ignorance and those who did wrong knew no better

13. Religious Education Support - SLSS 13 His Philosophy The soul � Very important Had to be nurtured and protected Gaining wisdom It would save the soul Lead the person in a virtuous life For Socrates �Knowing what is good is the same as doing what is good.� Believed people would not willingly do wrong No body wants to be a bad person Later philosophers disagreed with him They said that a person might know what is right but may not be strong enough or disciplined enough to do

14. Religious Education Support - SLSS 14 Socrates emphasised... Virtue (knowledge) was the most valuable of all possessions Life should be spent in search of good. Truth is possible to attain People should focus on self-development rather than material wealth It is the job of the philosopher to show people how little they really know. An action was right when it promoted true happiness.

15. Religious Education Support - SLSS 15 Socrates� Views on Alcohol Alcohol Drunkenness � short term pleasure. Whatever you are drowning out will come back Drunkenness - long term Leads to ill health Can enslave the body - addicted It goes against reason � why would you willingly damage your body? Does not produce true pleasure � the negative effects far outweigh the temporary happiness Socrates believed true pleasure could only be attained through moral living.

16. Religious Education Support - SLSS 16 Socrates� Execution Socrates was a social and moral critic He attempted to improve the Athenians' sense of justice His pursuit of virtue and his strict adherence to truth clashed with Athenian society He claimed he was the wiser one since he was the only person aware of his own ignorance. Put on trial and found guilty heresy corrupting the minds of the youth

17. Religious Education Support - SLSS 17