The discussion between Socrates and Meno revolves around a single question “What is virtue?” Socrates is interested in knowing what the intrinsic nature of a virtue is and what makes all instances of virtue‚ virtuous. In other words‚ the reason why something is a virtue. Although Meno produces a myriad of examples when he says “There is a virtue for every action and every age‚ for every task of ours and every one of us…” it still does not answer Socrates’ question. He provides virtuous examples‚
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What exactly is the purpose of the unexamined life? Why is the unexamined life not worth living? Why does Socrates argue it effectively and how does it contribute to why it is a strong thesis and why he lacks reasoning and thought? Socrates states that the purpose of the unexamined life and why it’s worth living is because humans have the ability to find a purpose in life rather than just working on surviving. Finding a purpose makes people who they are because the journey in life makes people understand
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The paramount political principle that guided Socrates in Book 5 is the process of acquiring knowledge. This knowledge would be employed to study the concept of an ideal existence. This model existence consisted of a society within a city state which was supported and guarded by an elite group of guardians (451e). In this hierarchal space‚ Socrates equated the male and female guardians of this society with guard dogs (451e). Guard dogs by their nature and growth would embody certain qualities. Hence
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Socrates on Death Now the hour to part has come. I go to die‚ you go to live. Which of us goes to the better lot is known to no one‚ except the god. (42a) Fear of the unknown is a phobia inherent to the human psyche; we are often dually terrified and fascinated with that which we cannot explain or understand. Accordingly‚ death is the ultimate fear; a subject of which cannot be studied or observed first hand without lethal consequences‚ a topic on which no one can rightly claim to be an expert
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Do the gods love the something because it is pious‚ or is it only pious because the gods love it? Socrates introduced this question and it has since been heavily debated throughout history with the sides split fairly evenly. This inquiry that has been posed leads people to start actually thinking about their values brought to them their entire life. Although they are following the rules that are laid out by either a holy figure‚ a mentor‚ or a political leader the moral thing to do? Can one be
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influential philosopher is Socrates. Born in Athens in 469 B.C.E‚ he spent most of his time at the marketplace and other public places engaging in dialogues about truths of life. Among many other things‚ he discussed virtue and happiness and how closely they are related. According to Socrates‚ virtue is absolutely necessary for perfect happiness because virtue brings a type of happiness that other things could never bring. In this paper‚ I will explain the aforementioned idea of Socrates on virtue and happiness
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Socrates as an Exemplar of Love It may seem at first that Plato wrote Symposium merely to praise Love through a sequence of speeches made by the selected male speakers attending the drinking party. After Socrates makes his speech on the truth of love however‚ it becomes more apparent that Symposium is also a tribute to Socrates and his way of life. Although this is shown gradually and indirectly‚ Plato eventually makes clear his respect and admiration for Socrates’ way of life. The structure of
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Socrates was the son of common Athenians. His father was a stone-mason/ sculptor‚ his mother a midwife. Socrates was also a stone-mason by trade and was to follow in his father’s footsteps. It was still yet unknown to Socrates in his early years that his ‘career’ would be that of a philosopher. It is said he was pulled out of his workshop by Crito because of the “beauty of his soul”. Jobless and serving no direct purpose to the Athenian (Greek) society‚ Socrates was well known in the Athenian
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Philosophy Professor Ravi Sharma In 80D Meno asks: “How will you look for it‚ Socrates‚ when you do not know at all what it is? How will you aim to search for something you do not know at all? If you should meet with it‚ how will you know that this is the thing that you did not know?” I believe this question warrants an in-depth inquiry of general sorts. Meno asked this question when he could not define a standard of virtue like Socrates had asked. That is why it’s easier to think of this question as just
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Socrates (469-399 BCE) lived during the time of transition from the height of the Athenian hegemony to its decline with the defeat by Sparta and its allies in the Peloponnesian War. This was a time when Athens sought to stabilize and recover from its defeat. The Athenian public had started to contemplate the effectiveness of democracy as a governmental system. At the latter end of his life he was charged with teaching the youth to “disrespect” the gods of the city. Socrates was convicted of these
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