Socrates Flashcards
(27 cards)
How did Socrates die?
hemlock poison
When did Socrates die?
399BC
What does Socrates’ trial and execution show about democracy & individual right?
Majority can act just like tyrants, Hence the need for individual rights
hat basic problem are philosophers trying to solve - the problem symbolized by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave?
The Problem of Biased Thinking
According to Mill, we can only solve the problem of biased thinking by…
letting people speak freely, subjecting our beliefs to criticism, and not censoring
According to Socrates, we can subject our beliefs to criticism by using…
Socratic method
Socratic Method
A series of questions & answers that lead to a contradiction. Can’t be true at the same time
Examples of Socratic Method
1) In class ex: Trolley cases (kill 4 vs. kill 1)
–> There are two train tracks, one with 4 people tied up and one with 1. You can pull a switch to make the train go on the track with the 1 person.
One train track with 4 people tied. Push 1 person in front of the train to stop it from running over and killing the 4 people.
2) Ex from Apology (Plato) Socrates vs Meletus on corrupting the youth: Meletus saying Socrates corrupts the youth intentionally
–> The Contradiction: Socrates does not harm himself intentionally. If he corrupts the youth, then he harms himself. Socrates harms himself intentionally <–> Socrates does not harm himself intentionally
Results of Socratic Method
does not reveal answer to question, but exposes ignorance
2 characteristics of someone who contradicts himself
1) you think you are wise (arrogance)
2) you are not wise (ignorance)
How Socrates solved the Oracle’s puzzle (in Apology).
Oracle’s Puzzle:
1. “Socrates is the wisest person in the world”
2. “Socrates is not wise”
Socrates spoke to Politicians, Poets, Craftsmen (CPP) using Socratic Method
A: His awareness of his ignorance made him “wiser” than those who falsely believed they were wise
Is a person with Socratic wisdom wise?
NO
Socratic Wisdom
Realizing you are not wise
Subjectivism
To have a good, happy life, you have to satisfy your desires. Since people all desire different things, a good life varies from person to person (is subjective)
Eudaimonism
To have a good, happy life, you have to become mature and virtuous. (believed by Socrates, Plato, etc..)
2 Arguments for Subjectivism
1) Personal Authority: Only I can determine what makes my life better and what makes it worse
2) Interminable Disagreement: If there was one answer to what every human needs to do to have a good life, then we’d agree about what it is. Since we don’t agree, a good life is subjective.
Plato’s “psychological integration” argument for Eudaimonism
Chariot Metaphor from Plato’s dialogue, Phaedrus
Plato’s Chariot Metaphor
Metaphor for Human Mind
–> Human mind is a system with parts, like an eye or car
Charioteer: Reason
Horse 1: Spiritual
Horse 2: Appetitive
3 mental faculties (parts of the human psyche)
- Reason/Intellect: craves knowledge
- Spiritual: recognition of dignity
- Appetitive: craves immediate pleasure (ex/food,drinks,sex)
If all mental faculties are working well they become virtues –> characteristics you have if you are mature
4 cardinal virtues
- Reason/Intellect: Wisdom
- Spiritual: Courage
- Appetitive: Temperance/Temperant
- (when all 3 mental faculties work together): Justice
In class example: Tunisian street vendor, Mohamed Bouaziz
Burned himself alive bc he wanted recognition of dignity (spiritual mental faculty)
Leontius’ psychological conflict example
Leontius struggles between his appetitive desire to stare at corpses and his rational resistance to do so. He gives in and angrily berates himself, reflecting the tripartite soul:
Reason: Knows it’s wrong to look.
Spirit: Expresses guilt and self-reproach.
Appetite: Craves the sight.
The conflict shows the need for harmony in the soul for self-control and justice.
Socrates’ Trial is in which text
In Plato’s Apology
Symbolization of the gadfly and horse in Plato’s Apology?
a gadfly irritates a horse to keep it awake and active
Socrates is the gadfly
Athens is the horse
