Legacy of Socrates

1. Who are you?

            For Socrates, the search for wisdom begins with an attempt to gain clarity as to whom we truly are as human beings. Before we can presume to understand the world, we must begin by understanding the reality of our own consciousness. From a Socratic point of view, the world is reduced exclusively to the human world, everything else being inconsequential. Initially, the search for wisdom is understood in terms of my need to understand precisely who I am.

            I am breathing and a living organism which is signified by human minds. I am a particular self who is characterized with the physical body and a story of the physical body’s functions. When I walk around I am friendly as a human-friendly approach is essential in the world in avoiding harm as well as hostility. I am a moral person who is driven by moral virtues of doing things that only result in desirable results.  I do not follow ethical beliefs without evaluating why they were formulated and whether their judgments are right. This is revealed in things that I do which involve decisions which are consciously connected as good moral requires.

2. AM I A MORAL PERSON?

            The self—that is, who I am—is primarily revealed in those aspects of my existence that involve conscious choices. I am what and who I am in so far as I choose to be and do what I am and do. This involves moral and ethical choices—what I choose because of my sense of moral or ethical obligation. Consequently, the Socratic search is concentrated in the moral dimension of my existence, which is what Socrates regarded as the true reality of the person. An amoral person is defined as an individual who is able to differentiate wrong from right. Morality is the individual is, therefore, the effort of the things that should be done and those that should be left as they are.  The morals of an individual are crucial as they deal with motives and conducts.  I am therefore a moral person because I am guided by consciousness which thus develops my personality as it dictates what I do. As a moral person, I research on things that are thought to be right and those practices by individuals in the society. My morals, therefore, respond to what people actually do in the society. This is because morals are considered to be shared group’s ideal regardless of whether they are fully practiced. A moral philosopher is who desires and discovers how moral rules are justified and the associated ethical beliefs (Ahbel-Rappe, &Kamtekar,2009). My practices, therefore, determine my morality as it allows me to consider the consequences of my conduct by investigation why the moral rules were set and whether they are justifiable.

3. WHAT DO OTHERS THINK OF ME? My family?My circle of friends?My classmates?My Instructors?

            It is obvious, however, that this dimension does not involve me in isolation. Moral choices involve other selves, other persons, just as theirs involve me. Thus, the searches for I, for my true identity, must be undertaken as a joint effort in which others are as involved as I am. Philosophy must be understood as a social function. Others are stubborn to declare that they do not care what other people think about them but as a human I need and want to fit into the societal cosmos.  Beings are united psychologically to interdependence and the perception of others is part of It (Ahbel-Rappe, & Kamtekar,2009).  Beings respond to the exclusion threat by showing social anxiety by feeling like one is not fully accepted by others which leaves one feeling depressed or agitated (Ahbel-Rappe, & Kamtekar,2009).

            How others see me is mainly influenced by how I think of myself.  The ability to understand how others see me enables me to directly connect to them a get greater satisfaction from the ties between us. We can never leave our personality for the assumption by others and therefore I really on misperception which are the thoughts of own individuals view me (Ahbel-Rappe, & Kamtekar,2009).  Self-concept is essential is establishing how others view me because the concept is based on my own beliefs on who I am which additionally helps in shaping my personality.

 

4. WILL I DESIRE TO MAKE MY FORTUNE OR BE A SUCCESS IN MY CAREER REGARDLESS OF THE MORAL OR ETHICAL CODES THAT I MAY BREAK?

            The primary mode of human companionship, according to Socrates, is language because language is the framework of rationality, and it is in and through language that we construct the human reality in which we live and function. In a sense, then, to speak is to create.

            Accordingly, the Socratic search for the self assumes initially the form of a linguistic analysis in which moral or ethical terms can be subjected to a detailed examination’s will, therefore, desire to attain success regardless of the ethical briefs that will be broken because  the human philosophical championship is the desire to develop  via experiences. The philosophy, therefore, seeks to awaken deeper understandings dimensions which help in developing experiences (Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014).  This is achieved by sustain attitudes which in turn emphasizes togetherness.  Ethical briefs are awakening by beings in the attempt of achieving a championship. The human consciousness which helps an individual to determine what right and what not influences an individual by declaring that career activities are right. This may result in broken morals in the effort of establishing high satisfaction in those things that matters (Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014).

5. IN TODAYS WORLD, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS VIRTUE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE GOOD LIFE, AND TRUTHFULNESS, IN THE ELECTRONIC COMMUNITY OF THE INTERNET?

 

            The linguistic analysis that we encounter in Socrates takes on the form of a dialogue in which the correct definition or understanding of a moral term is sought. Thus, without pretending to know or teach anything, Socrates asks others to define terms such as virtue, happiness, and righteousness, the good life, truthfulness, of others.

            Virtue can be described as the idea of holding a good or a satisfying character trait.  Virtue is crucial in establishing the good-being of an individual because it is thought to be a skill of living.  In order for a being, t be virtuous, they have to act in good ways(Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014). A being with good virtues does not necessary require moral or ethical rules because virtues act as their guiding principles.  Virtues are those skills that reveal a character of a human being which helps in exercising deliberations and self-control. Virtuous acts results to desirable impacts and therefore can be termed as good skills that an individual holds which results to being true.  Righteousness is attained with the right virtues and happiness, where happiness is the decisive end. The conception of happiness is effective in organizing being’s subordinate levels by indicating how the different ends should fully fit in distinct rational. Righteousness is influenced by a good character which helps in determining and establishing reliability and regularity of distinct actions (Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014).

6. DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SAY ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A RESULT OF THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?

            The Socratic dialogue is generally known as the elenchus, a term that conveys the idea of interrogation. In the elenchus, Socrates forces his interlocutor to examine his own understanding of a moral term, that is, to give a clear and concise definition of it. Invariably, however, he forces his interlocutor to confess that his own understanding of the moral term is unclear and unacceptable and that he really does not know what he is talking about. He is ignorant and his language does not mean anything at all. He utters sounds that say nothing.

            What I would like to see is the truth which should be shaped by beliefs which will help in determining the consistency of these beliefs. Elenchus is a form of a dialogue that exists in a cooperative argument between beings which is grounded on subjecting questions to draw some ideas and presumptions out by stimulating critical thoughts (Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014). In addition, I would also want to see developed understanding as Socrates method helps in bringing out definitions for additional understanding.

7. WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT YOU WILL TAKE WITH YOU AFTER YOU COMPLETE THIS COURSE?

            For his part, Socrates claims to be ignorant himself and insists that he only knows that he knows little or nothing. He does so because he knows that people do not really learn from what others say to them, but from what they themselves are able to think and conceive of them. Learned knowledge is superficial and mostly useless, whereas knowledge that comes from us is genuine and lasting.

            Gained knowledge is distinct from natural knowledge as natural knowledge helps in the development of understanding and skills.  What I, therefore, hope to take with from the course is the understanding of self-concept and that of others. The understanding of the perception by others is crucial as it helps in eliminating epistemology which is crucial because the idea of thinking that we know results in determining the general actions of self and choices (Cooper, 2012)   . Education requires providing expertise to a vocational preparation which I will gain.

8. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE BERNIE MADOFF WHO ARE SMART. ARE THE EVIL AND UNHAPPY?

            The root of all human evil and unhappiness, whether personal, social, or political, according to Socrates, is ignorance, understood not only in terms of not having in memory bits of information about the world but in terms of intellectual or spiritual confusion. We do wrong when we are confused or bewildered when our ideas are unclear when the noise and chatter of the human world around us has succeeded in making us stupid (using this word in its etymological sense). Hence, stupid people are bound to be evil and unhappy and are bound to spread their evil and unhappiness in every direction.

            According to Socrates wisdom is worth nothing. They are therefore happy individuals because their intelligence helps in setting directions for their actions. Knowledge is crucial in eliminating ignorance because it identifies contexts in which being utilized in drawing decisions on various practical issues. I regard to wisdom is based o the idea the wise people are knowledgeable(Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014). Somme beings that are knowledgeable are not prudent. Despite the availability of abundant factual knowledge, the individuals lack practical know-how of accomplishing things.  Factual knowledge no matter how extensive it is not adequate to demonstrate a wise individual. A wise being knows how to get in all kind of circumstances in the world and with all the distinct individuals. Wisdom does not know all the truths of it are based on how beset one can fully deal with situations (Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014).

9. DO YOU ENVISION YOURSELF TO BE AN EVIL OR A GOOD PERSON?

            This idea is expressed by Socrates in statements such as these: “Those who really know what is good can only do the good,” “Happiness and goodness can only be attained through self-examination and by attaining mental clarity,” “Evil is the necessary result of ignorance. Beings believe that there can never be good deeds in the world without involving the bad ones.  A good person lacks self-centeredness(Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014). This is the ability to feel compassion and understand with other beings. A good person is one who sacrifices their own well-being for the good of others. An evil person is that being who cannot understand with others (Aristotle, & Reeve, 2014). Their individual desires and needs are a priority as they are centered on self.  I am a god person who is driven by the well-being of others.

 

10.”WOULD YOU PREFER TO LIVE IN A UTOPIAN WORLD SUCH AS PLEASANTVILLE OR ON THE ISLAND WITH THE BOYS AFTER THE PLANE CRASH (LORD OF THE FLIES) ?

            This Socratic stance reveals a great deal of intellectual optimism, that is, the conviction that the mind, when sufficiently cleansed from the linguistic nonsense that comes from society, traditions, emotions, superstitions, and so many and varied sources of confusion, can reach a level of clarity which makes virtue, goodness, and happiness possible. According to Socrates, intellectualism permits an individual to do things that are morally right when they finally realize what suitable. Intellectual optimism according to Socrates is rational hopefulness. This is therefore achieved when the mind of being is cleared from misleading knowledge from experiences (Kreeft, 2007).

            This means doing things that are accurate because an individual cannot conduct things that are evil at will.  Virtues are part of knowledge and they influence the conduct of a person because an individual is always characterized by consciousness. This, therefore, prevents them from doing evil because of the reflection of the consequences. The conception of Socrates of knowing a general truth and ethical practices can thus be associated with the modern knowledge conception and rational intellectualism (Kreeft, 2007).

11. AFTER TAKING THIS COURSE, IDENTIFY THE WAYS THAT YOU SEE THAT SOCRATES HAS HAD AN AFFECT ON THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN POST 9II?

            Socrates has influenced the society in distinct ways, he has been effectively influential on the societal moral law in the western part and other areas like psychotherapy. This is in that, therapy approaches are generated from his wisdom which is utilized in practical practices of treating medical patients. This is accomplished by utilization of the Socrates questioning to help individuals. People can read about the questioning and the provided answers which help them to know on how to deal with various symptoms. In addition, this helps physicians in identifying various reasons why the patients suffer from anxiety (Bussanich, & Smith, 2013)  .

            Virtues that were continuously emphasized y Socrates are relevant and reliable in the society today.  This virtue includes wisdom, piety, courage, kindness, self-sacrifices and self-control. This is some of the several attributes that people rapidly strive for.  In addition, Socrates influenced the world today because he emphasized on a self-identity before trying to understand how others view us. This principle has been crucial in the s modern society which is characterized by criticism and therefore people are able to know how they can understand who they are.  To truly understand who a person means that a person is fully baked to be independent with fearlessness.  This, therefore, enables a person to overcome and understand their constraints which help in laying several ground work and real aims (Bussanich, & Smith, 2013) .

Socrates has therefore influenced the world by increasing knowledge sources and developing the understanding of individuals based on distinct field and especially the medical industry.  His concepts have thus be utilized in the development of better and advanced approaches to solving human beings issues. His influences have therefore results to great successes in the economic, political and social grounds as his concepts emphasize on understanding human (Bussanich, & Smith, 2013).

 

 

 

References

Ahbel-Rappe, S., &Kamtekar, R. (2009).A companion to Socrates.Chichester, West Sussex:        Wiley-Blackwell.

Aristotle, ., & Reeve, C. D. C. (2014). Nicomachean ethics.

Bussanich, J., & Smith, N. D. (2013).The Bloomsbury companion to Socrates. London:    Continuum.

Cooper, J. M. (2012). Pursuits of wisdom: Six ways of life in ancient philosophy from Socrates   to Plotinus. Princeton, N.J: Princeton University Press.

Kreeft, P. (2007). Socrates meets Descartes: The father of philosophy analyzes the father of modern philosophy's Discourse on method. San Francisco: Ignatius Press.