Socrates and the Sophists

Sophos

“wise”, philosophy means “love of wisdom”

Skeptics

believed man cannot know the truth about the riddles of nature and of the universe

agnosticism

the belief that the existence of a god or the supernatural is either unknown or unknowable

Socrates 470—399 BC

Was a Philosopher from Greece, question all people professing knowledge until contradictions in their beliefs became evident

only he who does the right action can be a virtuous man

right insight leads to the right action

feigned complete innocence

asked people to explain unstable ideas

socratic irony

pose of ignorance assumed in order to entice others into making statements that can then be challenged.

Socrates was very proud of his teachings

Concerned with ethical matters, executed for corrupting youth of Athens, could have defended himself but chose to die rather than take back his beliefs

did not write down his teachings

is known through the writings of others