TIMELINE 24

WESTERN CIVILIZATIONS I
CLASSICAL GREECE — SOCRATES

HUMANISM

-the focus on things human

> the nobility and dignity and worth of the human individual
and of human learning
and human achievements
especially in the arts and sciences

SOCRATES (c. 469 - 399 BC)

-revealed primarily through the writings of his most famous student, PLATO
(c. 427 - 347 BC)

-DIALECTIC (Grk: “discussion”)

-the art of examining ideas and opinions

through a method of question and answer

-elenchus (Grk: “refutation”)

-the art of examining a proposition

-for example: to examine a definition (such as “virtue” or “justice”)

-if the consequences of the definition are true,
then the definition is true
-if the consequences of the definition are false,
then the definition is also false

-in other words, if statements are true

they will not lead to false consequences

-SYMPOSIUM ( < Grk: symposion = “a drinking party”)

-a gathering of men to celebrate, debate, drink and discuss

SOCRATES:

-the ethical life is the most important part of human life

and the ethical life is a part of a larger set of universal truths

-the ethical life is based on virtue (justice, goodness, etc)

-virtue is not a matter of cleverly-argued opinions

and
virtue is not relative to individual circumstances

-rather: virtue is innate

that is, we are all born with conceptions of right and wrong,
of good and evil

-virtue is a condition of the human soul

that is, of the psyche (the seat of intelligence and character)

-this means that virtue must be cultivated

-Socrates saw his mission as :

-a search for wisdom about right conduct

which guides the intellect
and which improves moral character

-and thereby to bring about an improvement of the moral life of the city of Athens

-Socrates advocated the “good life”

meaning : a life of justice & fairness, of virtue and of beauty

-to live a “good life” means constant self-examination

-“the unexamined life is not worth living”

-one should never do wrong to others, even out of revenge or a sense of justice
because we harm others
and we also thereby harm our own soul (psyche)

-justice and virtue are a man’s (a person’s) most prized possession

-“disgrace is worse than death”

-“a good man cannot be harmed, neither in life nor in death,

and his affairs will not be neglected by the gods”

WESTERN CIVILIZATION I
HOMEWORK: PLATO

Please answer the following questions from the dialogues Apology and Crito :

The APOLOGY

1. How old is Socrates when he goes on trial ? (2)

2. Socrates mentions that his first accusers were by far the most dangerous, not the ones who have
brought about this trial. What was Socrates accused of being by these first accusers, and what made them
so much more dangerous — that is, why was this like fighting against shadows ? (2)

3. What did the oracle at Delphi say about Socrates ? Why was he puzzled by this statement, and how
did Socrates finally come to understand what it meant ? (4)

4. Why did Socrates become unpopular (at least 2 reasons) ? (4)

5. What were the (two) charges against Socrates ? (4)

6. For Socrates, what was the aim of life, and what did he try to persuade others to do ? (4)

7. According to Socrates, what is the relationship between living a life of virtue and leading a public
life ? (2)

8. After the final verdict, for what real reason does Socrates claim the jury sentenced him to death ?
(2)

9. What is more difficult to avoid than death, according to Socrates, and what condemnation does
Socrates pronounce upon the jury after he is condemned to death ? (4)

10. What are his reflections on death which he speaks publicly to the jury ? (6)

CRITO

11. What are the 4 arguments that Crito makes to convince Socrates that he should flee ? (8)

12. According to Socrates, whose opinions should one value the most — that is, whose judgments
should one use as a guide for one’s own life, and to whom should one not listen ? (4)

13. Why was Socrates concerned about doing the right thing ? (2)

14. According to Socrates, what is “the most important thing” in life ? (2)

15. And according to Socrates, what are a person’s “most precious possession” ? Do you agree or
disagree? Explain. (4)