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Explore the complexities of understanding Socrates' philosophy, his relation to Presocratic philosophy, the Socratic method, his trial, and his lasting impact. Dive into the mind and teachings of Socrates, and question the value of examining one's life through his teachings. Discover the challenges and transformative power of Socratic dialectic and ponder the age-old question of the examined life.
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Chapter 2 Socrates
What are the difficulties we encounter when trying to understand the philosophy of Socrates? How was Socrates related to Presocratic philosophy? What is the Socratic method? Why did Socrates write nothing? Why was Socrates put on trial? Why is Socrates considered by many to be the father of philosophy?
A tale of two students Do you think that your views are similar to those of your favorite teachers? Do you think that you’ll continue to hold these views? How might you be similar to Socrates?
Are they similar? How? SOCRATES Malcolm X Bertrand Russell Barack Obama Jean-Paul Sartre
Anaxagoras’ Influence Do you believe that all the qualities of our world are the result of colorless, tasteless, odorless, atoms? BUT How can something tasteless produce something that tastes a certain way? How can something odorless produce the odors in the world? Does this Democritean view smell fishy to you….?
MIND RULE? Is this a picture of Anaxagoras? OR is it a picture of Socrates? What makes it a picture of either? What creates the structure and order of the universe we see around us?
Socrates’ Inward Turn Examine your mind, using its own reflective power—the “eyes of the soul” What do you find? How does the mind operate? Is this the key to understanding the universe?
The Socratic Method What is Socratic dialectic? How is it personally transformative?
Is this an argument? • This is an argument! • No it isn’t! • Yes it is! • No, it’s not—you’re just disagreeing, not arguing! • So what—there’s no difference! • Yes there is!
What can we learn from the above discussion, or disagreement, or argument, or dialectic conversation? Would Socrates approve?
“Empty vessels make the most noise” What dos this saying mean? Would Socrates agree?
Is Ignorance Bliss? Or is the recognition of one’s own ignorance better?
Meletus’ Mistake Socrates, you are a complete atheist! Socrates teaches the youth to acknowledge new divinities other than those the Stat acknowledges
Immunity from Harm? What does Socrates think he cannot lose? Do you agree? Is Socrates invulnerable to the attacks of those worse than him?
Is this Xenophon? Or it is Crito, weeping? Or is it a picture of neither? How do you know?
Is it good to die for what you believe in? What if you believe in something foolish—like the existence of fairies at the bottom of your garden? Is this worth dying for?
Which is more important? How one lives What one believes
Aristophanes’ Socrates Look at this man, with his wild eyes and unkempt beard. Would YOU talk with him about the meaning of life if he accosted you on the street?
Intuition? Do you ever just know what the right thing to do is? REALLY? What would Socrates say?
Which is Better? Tradition and Civility Naturalism and Reason
A Trick Question? Would it be a trick question to ask you why you supported the view from the previous slide that you chose?
Socrates’ Wondrous Distress What sort of wisdom does Socrates teach? Is this useful in everyday life?
Could YOU examine your life more thoroughly than you do now? If so… what does this tell you about the value of your current life?