Socrates (Athens 469-399B.C.)‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’

• “Philosophy" had been primarily directed towards the natural sciences. Socrates opened up philosophy into the realms of moral, ethical and political questions about virtue and justice.

He is regarded as one of the wisest people of all time.

• Socrates wrote nothing because he felt that knowledge was a living, interactive thing.

• Socrates sought out people who had a reputation for wisdom and in every case was able to reveal that their reputations were not justified. He did this using a method now known as the Socratic dialogue, now call the "Socratic method."

• He would ask a series of questions and thus working them into a state of contradiction. Proving to them that their original assertion was wrong.

• Socrates regarded this as a service to God and decided that he should continue to make efforts to improve people’s knowledge by persuading and reminding them of their own ignorance.

‘Do you think this made Socrates very popular?’

The Death of Socrates

• In 399 B.C. Socrates was tried, unfairly, for corrupting the morals of Athenian youth and for religious heresies and sentenced to death. Although friends were willing to arrange for his escape, Socrates willingly drank the poison Hemlock, in his prison cell.

• He firmly believed that a good person cannot suffer unduly and that death is not something to be feared. Where a person had lived a good life and had cultivated their Soul, they would have a far more pleasant situation in an afterlife reincarnation than if a person had led a bad life. The Soul, he added, is on an eternal quest for truth and knowledge.

Now what do you think is happening in this picture?

Death of Socrates• Plato recounts the last hours of Socrates' life. This is the end of his final

speech, just after he had been condemned to death by the citizens of Athens.

‘Let us reflect in another way, and we shall see that there is great reason to hope that death is a good, for one of two things:--either death is a state of nothingness and utter unconsciousness, or, as men say, there is a change and

migration of the soul from this world to another. Now if you suppose that there is no consciousness, but a sleep like the sleep of him who is

undisturbed even by the sight of dreams, death will be an unspeakable gain. . . . Now if death is like this, I say that to die is gain; for eternity is then

only a single night. But if death is a journey to another place, and there, as men say, all the dead are, what good, O my friends and judges, can be

greater than this? . . . Above all, I shall be able to continue my search into true and false knowledge; as in this world, so also in that; I shall find out

who is wise, and who pretends to be wise, and is not. . . . The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways--I to die, and you to live. Which

is better God only knows.’

What reasons does Socrates give for not fearing death?

Socratic MethodMethod: ask a series of questions, by which Socrates made the people who answered the questions

understand not only the point he was trying to make but also that they didn't know as much as they

thought they did.

“And who is best able to do good to his friends and evil to his enemies in time of sickness?The physician.

Or when they are on a voyage, amid the perils of the sea?The pilot.

And in what sort of actions or with a view to what result is the just man most able to do harm to

his enemy and good to his friend?In going to war against the one and in making alliances with the other.

But when a man is well, my dear Polemarchus, there is no need of a physician?No.

And he who is not on a voyage has no need of a pilot?No.

Then in time of peace, justice will be of no use?I am very far from thinking so.

You think that justice may be of use in peace as well as in war?”

See how Socrates proved his point by asking questions? The last question is a rhetorical question.

Socrates asked the question as a way of summing up his argument. The only answer the other person

could give, was Yes.

‘ What do you think Polemarchus’ point originally was, that Socrates disproved?’

Plato (Athens 428 - 348 BC) Greek philosopher who was the pupil of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle – and one of the most influential figures in 'western' thought.

• Plato came from one of the wealthiest and most politically active families in Athens.

• Plato's actual given name was apparently Aristocles, after his grandfather. "Plato" seems to have started as a nickname (for platos, or "broad")

• Plato was well travelled, exploring places including Cyrene, Italy, Sicily and even Egypt.

• But Plato always returned to his home town of Athens were he founded what is said to be the first university - his Academy (near Athens) in around 385 BC. Except for two more trips to Sicily, the Academy seems to have been Plato's home base for the remainder of his life.

• He died at the age of eighty or eighty-one at 348-7 B.C.E.

• Plato was buried at the school he founded. His grave, however, has not yet been discovered by archaeological investigations.

Plato’s many books......

Early:- (All after the death of Socrates in 387 B.C.E.): • Apology, Charmides, Crito, Euthydemus, Euthyphro, Gorgias,

Hippias Major, Hippias Minor, Ion, Laches, Lysis, Protagoras, Republic Bk. I.

Early-Transitional:- (387-380 B.C.E.): • Cratylus, Menexenus, Meno

Middle:- (c. 380-360 B.C.E.) • Phaedo, Republic Bks. II-X, Symposium

Late-Transitional:- (c. 360-355 B.C.E.) • Parmenides, Theaetetus, Phaedrus

Late:- (c. 355-347 B.C.E.;) • Sophist, Statesman, Philebus, Timaeus, Critias, Laws

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