“I would like to be a philosopher in ancient Athens and a poet in ancient China” a quote from Shan Sa, an awarded Chinese author, show the legacy of ancient Athens today. Athens is remembered for being the birthplace of democracy, drama, and philosophy. All of these would have most likely never occurred if not for development of an academic society that valued reason and logic. One of Plato’s works, The Symposium, shows the degree of the intellectual community. The intellectual life in Athens was sophisticated and accomplished due to the education level of its intellectuals, the sharing of ideas and its openness to criticism. One way that shows the sophistication of the academic life in Athens is knowledge of its foremost intellectuals. In …show more content…
Being criticized is one of the hardest things to accept as a thinker or scientist. Academic criticism questions the very premise of one’s idea, theory or hypothesis. It this openness to criticism that the Athenians show in The Symposium that show the true nature of these men. All of these men are well educated, well spoken and present well thought out ideas. The are most likely highly respected men in the community and must take some pride in their abilities. However, there is an uncanny acceptance to criticism from their peers that proves these men prioritize logic and reason over their own personal pride. An examples of this is seen when Eryximachus says to Aristophanes, “ Indeed, I am not going to attack you for I thought your speech was charming” (Burger 108). This quote displays the Athenians be able to admit they were wrong, and were able to change their views if presented with new, logical information. This is a key element in a sophisticated and accomplished intellectual community. It is at the very core of academic thinking to question and provide answers that logically explain why. If new evidence is presented, a good intellectual will change his answer to re explain this new information or question. However, in The Symposium, the reader must be careful not to use this text as a historical record of who the smartest Athenian was. Plato of student of Socrates, could have potential a large bias for his former teacher and could paint him a brighter light than might be historically accurate. It is important to understand the significance of others openness to criticism but not necessarily that Socrates was the superior intellectual of his time, just because he is the last to speak and receives very little
This adds up to cosmopolitanism: Athens is world class city, with, as the old guy grumbles, every known language audible to the Athenians, making their speech "a hotch-potch of all those Greeks and foreigners..." (II, 8). These are the ingredients for both wealth and humanistic triumph, and a setting in which anything is possible, for good or ill.
Athens was a much more superior polis compared to Sparta because the Athenians invented new ideas and creations that supported the people, such as democracy, the Athenians led the Delian League, and Sparta created the Peloponnesian League after the Athenians created their alliance, and the Athenians changed the ways of their government many times to suit the people, and the Spartans did not.
Throughout all the years, he never could find anyone as wise as himself, and all he did was make enemies searching. These enemies are now his accusers, and they accuse him of spreading evil doctrines, corrupting the youth, and not believing in the Gods. Throughout the speech, Socrates continues to shoot down every accuser and it is evident that he has done no wrong. Eventually, one of his accusers states that he must be doing something strange and that he wouldnt be that famous if he were like other men. Socrates did not live a very public life unlike most people at that time. His thoughts of being virteous had more to do with examining yourself and becoming a better person and in that way, you benifit society. He did not believe Athens to be virtuos at all, and that they relied on materail things and reputation rather than finding happiness by searching for it deep within
It is well known that Plato, a devoted student of Socrates, chronicled many of Socrates' speeches and conversations. Every so often one can find instances where Socrates and other players in these conversations seem to contradict themselves, or at least muddle their arguments. One such occurrence of this is in Plato's Symposium and Plato's Phaedrus. Both texts speak of love in its physical sense, both texts describe love and its effects, and both discuss how it is best realized, yet they do this in very different fashions, and for different reasons.
Strepsiades says, “It is said that they have two speeches, the stronger, whatever it may be, and the weaker. One of these speeches, the weaker, wins, they say, although it speaks the more unjust things” (Aristophanes, 111-115). This is very similar to the first charge brought against him in The Apology, for challenging the orthodox beliefs and being “a thinker on things aloft, who has investigated all things under earth, and who makes the weaker speech the stronger” (Plato, 18b). All of Athens held the belief that Socrates questioned things that should not be questioned. But both Socrates and Aristophanes know that a philosopher questions everything, from the mundane to the
The Sophists accepted things before any factual evidence proved or disproved it, then they taught it to people who paid to learn, regardless of the lack of evidence. This is what Socrates wanted to change about how the Athenian people thought. Socrates used to say “To find yourself, think for yourself,” to try to advise people to think logically for themselves before believing what people tell them. Socrates’ accusers and the citizens who voted still accused Socrates of teaching others to follow his example, as seen in the Apology, written by Plato, wherein it states that, “Socrates is committing an injustice, in that he enquires into things below the earth and in the sky, and makes the weaker argument defeat the stronger, and teaches others to follow in his example.” This shows Socrates’ philosophies were seen as teachings and beliefs that challenged the Greek system of that time. Even though Socrates’ ideologies were trying to improve the Ancient Greeks way of life, the Athenian citizens felt disconcerted with his ideas and beliefs because they went against the status quo of the time, which they were comfortable
He set out to “go to all those who had any reputation for knowledge to examine its meaning. And by the dog, men of Athens – for I must tell you the truth – I experienced something like this: In my investigation in the service of the god I found that those who had the highest reputation were nearly the most deficient, while those who were thought to be inferior were more knowledgeable”(22a). This conclusion of his investigation helps his appeal to the audience men who are less reputable than others, but provokes those of highest reputation such at Meletus, Anytus and Lycon. Socrates is aware that speaking out in this form makes him “unpopular”, but he continues to say it regardless. He is convinced that he is not going to hold back his thoughts and speak the truth to the jury. The issue with these statements is that ultimately the people of greater power and more authority are the people that he is insulting by calling them less wise that the rest of the citizens. Since he acknowledges that what he is doing makes him unpopular then, he knows he in aggravating those who are listening to him but he continues to do regardless. This is worse because now his audience knows it is intentional and he is willingly choosing to behave in this manner. This is clearly unethical because if Socrates is aware that he is aggravating those around him then why would he
Overtime, the Archaic period started a spread of Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean area. One of the cultures during this time was the Hellenic culture. The Hellenic culture was based on the work of Socrates and Plato. Socrates was the best-known teacher of wisdom in the fifth century in Athens (Acrobatiq,2014.) Socrates was concerned with real life problems, education, and how people could improve in daily living. While, some criticized him for his belief towards the gods, others admired him and considered him originated scientific knowledge and asking a sequence of
(37) The problem is that many of the citizens of Athens who wanted Socrates dead, lacked that emotional intelligence and thought highly of themselves. So of course they become defensive when Socrates sheds light on the idea that they may be wrong. As someone who cared most about the improvement of the soul, Socrates would have made a constructive role model to the criminals of Athens, as he would go on saying, “virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man…”(35) Socrates was able to benefit everyone alike as he had human wisdom- something that all the Athenians could relate
In his defense, Socrates claims over and again that he is innocent and is not at all wise, “…for I know that I have no wisdom, small or great.” Throughout the rest of his oration he seems to act the opposite as if he is better than every man, and later he even claims that, “At any rate, the world has decided that Socrates is in some way superior to other men.” This seems to be his greatest mistake, claiming to be greater than even the jury.
The Symposium is considered one of Plato’s great literary works. Although short in its Platonic dialogue, many philosophers agree that Plato wrote the Symposium to explore the true nature of love through Socrates’ wisdom. The Symposium is set at a dinner party and offers speeches from six prominent Athenian intellectuals. Each speaker presents varying perspectives on love as a eulogy to Eros, the God of Love. The varying perspectives all lead up to a speech by Socrates unveiling the truth about love and wisdom.
This new idea of rational thought spread to the Greek capitol, Athens. Here politics and democracy exploded. Politicians and citizens were now able to debate issues and question justice. This form of independent thinking brought great pride and self-confidence to members of the Greek society. This allowed for huge successes for further philosophy, architecture, art, mathematics, anatomy, botany, literature, and creativity.
Plato may have never become the world renowned philosopher that he is considered to be today if it had not been for Socrates (469-399 B.C.E.). Plato was Socrates' most famous pupil, and Socrates was such an inspiration to him that...
One of Socrates’ favorite students was Plato. Cross agrees, saying, “Plato (437-347) was Socrates’ prized student.” The thing Plato did was magnificent, he was always questioning Socrates in his teaching because he knew that’s what was expected of him. If we fast forward to modern day teachers, or professors, they are always assumed to be correct and have the highest level of knowledge and wisdom (all the while teaching about Socrates.) This is completely obscene because their teaching method is to not have students question their ideas, but that their ideas are solid, correct, and unwavering. Socrates would highly disagree with this idea. The amazing philosopher so many people refer to, Plato and Socrates both are advocates of students questioning what they learn so they do not become daft robots. Yet in modern day society, many are taught to accept what their professors and teachers say as the cold hard truth that shan’t be
The Athenian philosopher Plato (c.428-347 B.C.) was one of the most important figures of the ancient Greek world and in the history of Western thought. Plato expressed in his written dialogues about the ideas and techniques taught from his teacher Socrates. Socrates was also a philosopher; he was known for asking many questions but never finding the answers to them. After Socrates forced suicide, Plato traveled southern Italy, Sicily and Egypt, in the search to learn. Plato’s fascination was the distinction between ideal forms and everyday experience, and how they played out both for individuals for societies. Plato believed certain people were not capable of thinking. He created an educational system, that only the brightest would get the information from the philosophers to be capable of making big decisions. Plato’s written dialogues addressed what makes a good person and how we should act in humanity.