The life and teachings of Socrates

Sinnathamby Rasiah

Philosophy is one of the gifts that humanity owe to ancient Greece. The country produced many eminent thinkers and Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle figure out as luminaries among them. Their influence in society namely on moral and social reform and in good governance can be felt in the western world even today.

Most of the later philosophers were influenced by the ideas of these philosophers. The term philosophy means 'lover of wisdom'.

The aim is the creation of ideas and reconstitution of human life in accordance with ideal claims. Plato, the supreme thinker of antiquity has indeed called the philosopher 'the supreme spectator of all times and existence'. It is notable that Socrates was the teacher of Plato and in turn the latter was the mentor of Aristotle. In this backdrop, to give an account of Socrates who laid the groundwork for later philosophers is pertinent.

Brief biography

Socrates is the first Athenian name that meets the history of philosophy and although he wrote nothing, the contribution of his disciples to the Athenian literature, the greatest in the world have made him by far the most celebrated figure in the annals of human thought... Shelly called Socrates as the Jesus Christ of Greece and although the contrast is hardly less than between Hebraic and Hellanic spirit, still a certain resemblance can be traced in the seriousness of teaching, the self devotion of their lives and the lofty tragedy of their death.

The philosophical history of Greece is very long and the period of Socrates is said to be watershed between early thinkers and later teachers. Before the advent of Socratic period there were teachers called Sophists who took fees for their teaching, whereas Socrates took none. He was an Athenian born and bred, who loved his native city and never left except at the call of military service.

It will be remembered that the Sophists were professional teachers not only of wisdom but also of virtue, while Socrates was looked upon as a moral reformer. Habitual self command, combined sociability and gracious of demeanour were the object lesions least likely to wound self-esteem of others, and these were illustrated to perfection in the personality of Socrates. In the wider sense he can be called a moral reformer than his supreme acts of civic and military heroism that won him an immortal name among posterity.

Pioneer in 'reasoning'

Man is the measure of all things but only in so far as he submits his casual impressions to the test of logic; if one man's opinion is more valuable than anothers, it is because by argument he can make his opinion yours.

As is well-known, Socratic method of reasoning consisted of putting a series of well known questions to his interlocutors and draw them on from admission to admission until a conclusion was reached. This sort of cross-examination was practised in the Athenian law courts just as in our own.

This method seems to have been in vogue before the time of Socrates but he was the first to use it. On a greater scale as a philosophical method for discriminating between error and truth, as also in education for bringing home ascertained and demonstrated truth to the mind of the pupil.

Socrates is said to be a dialectician. He had learnt something of geometry in his younger days and this method may have suggested the more general idea of dialectic. Socrates wanted to bring reformation in society and state. But in his view the purpose was to be effected if at all by means of very different from those habitually employed by the prophets and preachers of ancient and modern times.

He never indulged in moral declaration. Although a religious thinker, he never appealed to religious emotion nor indeed to prejudice or passion of any description.

He never denounced nor dogmatised, but addressed himself solely to the reason, of his hearers. And this was very much harder for him than any one of his successors, as he had to begin by making the world understand what it means.

The Athenians are said to be the cleverest of men in their homes but silliest in their collective deliberations. Socrates wished this individual intelligence to be directed towards the acquisition of special aptitudes in all departments of public service and made available for the good of the state. The exercise of each particular trade and profession demanded special training and proficiency to secure success; why not then in the supreme art of war, finance, administration and justice.

Tragic death

It is said that to achieve power and political gain Socrates was made a scapegoat saying that he corrupted the youth of the country. Even some pupils of Socrates who are opportunists turned against their master. Notably Critias and Alcibiades tried to involve him in some crime. They were the leaders of a hateful oligarchy established after their victory by the Spartans who during a brief reign of terror deluged the streets of Athens with blood. But Socrates disobeyed their orders and freely criticized their policies in conversation.

No sooner after the fall of oligarchy, Socrates was looked with suspicion as he was the teacher of the two culprits mentioned above. And moreover Socrates was known for his sympathy towards the Aristocrats. That was doubtless his chief offence. As the Socratic method had not reformed the young nobles people argued, it had made them, what they were. The main charge brought against Socrates was that he corrupted the youth of the country. On these charges Socrates was tried and capitally condemned. According to human custom of Athens, his death was inflicted painlessly by a drought of hamlock (poison).

The way Socrates was put to death was generally criticized. It was not Socrates but philosophy itself was put to death. A W Benn in his book History of Ancient Philosophy says that to put an illustrious old man to death because his political sympathies do not go with extreme democracy prevalent at that time is in no way excusable or justifiable.

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