SOCRATES

Annotations:

• Socrates is a sceptic with the capacity of language to put the truth into words. He is a fan of objectivity, but thinks we can never capture it in any definition.        fLuXeDuP, Yahoo! Answers

1. Background Info:
   1. Born circa 470 BC
      1. to:
         1. Sophroniscus; a sculptor
         2. Phaeranete; a midwife
      2. Where:
         1. Athens
   2. Initially earned his living as a master stonecutter
      1. however...
         1. his neglect of everyday affairs due to philosophising lead to poverty
         2. He would wander the streets barefoot and shabbily dressed
   3. Died circa 399 BC
      1. how old:
         1. 71 years approx.
      2. where:
         1. Again, Athens
2. Idea #1: Socrataic Dialect

   Annotations:

   • Dialects normally begin with a definition, e.g. Justice is "X". Socrates then proceeds to ask questions which prove the definition to be contradictory.
   1. what:
      1. A Question-and-Answer form of reasoning
   2. why:
      1. Meant to bring us closer to the truth
         1. however...
            1. Most dialects end in confusion
      2. Shows that the truth cannot be put into words
3. Idea #2: The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living
   1. when:
      1. Circa 499 BC, while on trial for corrupting the youth

         Annotations:

         • if you believe making them think for themselves is corrupting them...
         1. Refused to take back his teachings
   2. what:
      1. The statement that eventually lead to his death
   3. why:
      1. Humans should look within to get the true value of life