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  • Essay / Socrates' contribution to the philosophy of self-knowledge

    Table of ContentsCrucial role of self-knowledge from Socrates' perspectiveSocrates' methodology for using self-knowledge in his argumentConclusionIt is often said that we should “we know” in life. However, it is not clear what type of information this sentence asks us to formulate, nor how to obtain it. We hear a lot of advice which, in theory, is not always very convincing. Could the idea of ​​self-knowledge be too common? All things considered, there are a lot of intriguing things to know. Why should self-actualization be distinguished from any other form of counseling? Furthermore, whether self-knowledge is essential or not, don't each of us think enough about ourselves? I know when I'm tired, or cold, or even mentally failing. So what is the real argument here? To provide an accurate argument and understand Socrates' contribution to philosophy, I will analyze Plato's Apology of Socrates. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe Crucial Role of Self-Knowledge from Socrates' PerspectiveWe begin our exploration of self-knowledge in Athens, where Socrates defends himself against accusations that were brought against him by Athenians. Among the many points he makes to improve his plea, he states that his companion Chaerephon spoke with the Oracle of Delphi, who revealed to him that no one is more intelligent than Socrates. Socrates has declared his ignorance on the most essential questions of the world, so he is confused. by the declaration of the Oracle. Regardless, he suggests that he may be aware of his own innocence, whereas a large number of Athenians certainly are not. I will analyze this accusation and relate it to Socrates' later comment that "the unexamined life is not worth living." Socrates states that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” meaning that it is only by trying to know ourselves that our lives have any meaning or value. What happens if we stop questioning ourselves, or even the world around us? We would have difficulty distinguishing between good and evil. Socrates even seems to insinuate that humans are no better than animals without philosophy. Socrates' statement about his own ignorance indicates an earlier and deeper level of knowledge than that of the sciences and crafts. Socrates has no science or crafts, but he is able to recognize his own ignorance, and this self-knowledge makes him wiser than anyone else, because people who have science or skills think they know everything, but this is not really the case. know nothing. Socrates, at least, is aware of the limits of his knowledge and realizes that he is really worthless in terms of wisdom. Self-knowledge is essential because it allows you to better understand yourself. With greater self-understanding, you are ready to be responsible for your own life. You would then be able to live your life as you wish, rather than external influences coming into play. Through self-knowledge, we are in a better position to understand the external universe as well as the internal universe resides inside us. We realize that the meanings we attach to the facts of life greatly affect the nature of our human experience rather than the facts themselves. Therefore, we can change our lives by changing the way we think and perceive our environment. We can end up being more joyful by evolving ourselves,without changing the world. In theory, when we ourselves change, our environment changes as well, as if all sense of the world has ceased to exist. Realizing that we make our own lives, we are completely and utterly responsible for what we do. It is astonishing that what we take charge of escapes the victimization of circumstances. Socrates' methodology of using self-knowledge in his argument "The so-called 'Socratic method' is a means of philosophical inquiry, in which people are questioned about what they said and then work through several related questions to see if they contradict each other. If he does so, it proves to the person that his initial position was inconsistent and, ultimately, he is wiser than before, because he has become aware of his own ignorance. Socrates calls this method elenchusSocrates continually identifies his own lack of wisdom, which is almost incriminating in a sense. Why does such a wise man deny his own intellectual power and competence? Fear seems to be a key player in many of Socrates' dialogues. Fear reappears throughout the beginning of the Apologies in different arguments, but hypothetically all the same. Socrates discusses man's fear of death and its impact on the decisions and organization of his life. Even with all his conjectures, Socrates exposes his own flaws and weaknesses among the Athenians, which, to them, is an automatic red flag in his plea of ​​innocence due to their interpretation of his intentions. This philosophical work seems built on the very foundation of the idea that context is extremely crucial in all aspects of life. Whether it’s self-knowledge, fear, wisdom, or even just educating others. The idea is very clear about the vital importance of context. Without context, we immediately jump to what we want to say next, based on a few words from another source or individual. Obviously, Socrates' supposed intentions were taken out of context, which raised all these questions and propaganda. An individual may have a genuine belief, but that belief is generally not dependent on actual knowledge. To complete this account, something should be said about what belief is, what truth is, and what justification is. Socrates clearly states that he will speak as he wishes, that is, tell the complete and logical truth. The question of good and evil has been debated for quite a long time. I trust that truth is a person's impression of having beliefs and choices. The truth differs among people with contrasting thoughts or ideas. Yet the truth is something that everyone accepts as right. In this sense, it largely depends on what suits most people. In reality, the truth spoken for the wrong purpose is considered even worse than a lie. But by today's standards, people don't like the truth and sometimes don't even accept what's in front of them. In the case of Socrates, what is life without beliefs? Life is only meant to be a progression of lies, and they are lies told with the intent of deception. Deception could involve influencing others, and perhaps even influencing yourself. What is life without valuable beliefs? It's a useless life. If you trust in teaching, love, or know-how, at that point you build things, you develop things, you maintain things, and you create things. You have a chance to leave Earth greater than it was before. So, is Socrates' overall intention to deceive? He.