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The philosophical myth of ancient Greece: What is the true image of Socrates?
Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, is undoubtedly one of the founders of Western philosophy, but his true image is full of contradictions and unsolved mysteries. Socrates was born in 470 BC. As a controversial figure among the people of Athens, his thoughts are still deeply influential to this day. However, he left almost no first-hand writings. Understanding of his philosophical views mainly comes from his student Plato, a disciple of Socrates, and the historian Sykes. This situation creates what academic circles call the "Socratic problem," namely, how to reconstruct Socrates' true philosophy from contradictory data.
"The only thing I know is that I know nothing."
Socrates is famous for his unique dialogue method, which not only has educational significance, but also promotes people's exploration of ethics and epistemology. Whether it is Plato's "Medea" or "Principles of Laws" and other works, the image of Socrates is mostly shown in the form of questions and answers, stimulating everyone's thinking. In dialogue, he would continually ask questions that would expose contradictions in his opponent's arguments and leave unresolved questions as part of his philosophical activity. Socrates's use of irony was also characteristic of these discussions, often making his interlocutors uncomfortable in the face of their own ignorance.
"True wisdom comes from admitting one's ignorance."
The life story of Socrates cannot avoid his trial and death. He was tried in 399 BC on charges of disrespecting the gods of Athens and corrupting the youth. Although Socrates defended himself with great debating skills, he was unable to change the final death sentence. On his last night in prison, he showed no fear and even rejected his friend's offer to escape for him, choosing the dignity of death rather than surrender. This choice made him even more noble in the hearts of future generations.
In Socrates' teaching, he emphasized the importance of moral character and advocated that the nature of "beauty" should be discussed first. His influence on young minds is often presented in the form of questioning and reflection, allowing students to form their own opinions in the process of exploration. However, multiple interpretations of his philosophy, from Plato's symbolic genealogy to the satirical depictions of the ancient comedy writer Aristophanes, make it difficult to determine who Socrates really was.
"The pursuit of truth requires the courage to question oneself and others."
In addition, Socrates' lifestyle was also atypical of Athenian society at that time. His appearance is not outstanding, and God does not seem to have given him any eye-catching talents, but he has attracted the followers of young people with his profound thoughts and philosophical charm. He was often surrounded by students and followers who followed him for discussion and study, an influence not diminished by his unruly appearance and stubborn lifestyle.
Behind the trial of Socrates, in addition to the conflict of personal philosophy, it also affected the political fluctuations of the Athenian era. At that time, Athens was facing drastic changes due to the Battle of Sparta. His death was not only a conviction of a philosopher, but also a metaphor for the suppression of voices seeking truth.
"An unexamined life is not worth living."
Although various depictions of Socrates may be exaggerated and misunderstood, his core ideas are still of great importance to later generations of philosophy, ethics, and political thought. From ancient Greece BC to the modern world, Socrates' influence has never faded, and the dialogue method he used has been widely adopted by later generations and continues to this day.
Perhaps we need to re-examine this ancient philosophical master, because in today's society, can we still have the courage to face ignorance and continue to explore the meaning of truth?
