A Critical Reading/Thinking Workshop for Student Support Services participants

Troy University; Troy, AL 36082

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Who is or was this SOCRATES?

An Educator, Public Debater, Husband, Father, and Skilled Worker Who is

credited with being the . . . father of critical philosophy.

When did Socrates live?Answer: 469 – 399 B.C.E. (Before Calendar Era),

during the time Athens was recovering from a war defeat, yet still during the “Golden Age of Greece”)Great literature, philosophy, and architecture marked this period, despite the war.

Where did Socrates live?Answer: Athens, Greece, during a time of political

turmoil

In brief, Socrates was . . .

Husband to his wife, Xanthippe, age 19 (pronounced zanthippi), a very temperamental woman

Father to at least three sons

Stonemason by trade who could neither read nor write

A veteran and hero of the Pelopenessian War between Athens and Sparta. ~ Socrates saves Alcibiades’ (Al see bee adis) life.

~ Alcibiades became one of Socrates’ students though later committed treacherous acts.

One of the great “sages” of Ancient Greece~ A sage is a person of profound wisdom and judgment.~ One who coined maxims for everyday life.

Most famous philosopher in Western history though he wrote nothing, yet publicly argued/debated morals, politics, and ethics with others in the Athenian marketplaces.

Broaded the scope of philosophy so that it addressed more than just scientific topics, but also morality and ethics in individuals and within society.

Famous philosopher whose students (the most famous of whom are Plato and Xenophon) wrote/published Socrates’ dialogues after Socrates’ death

Socrates said . . .

This statement that Socrates made became the credo (foundational belief) upon which much of moral philosophy (mores) and ethical theory (ethos) has been built.

Examining one’s life thus helps one determine his or her values and beliefs about what is good or moral, as well as what stands in opposition to good or moral.

Why is SOCRATES important?

“In his use of (1) critical reasoning, by his unwavering (2) commitment to truth, and through the (3) vivid example of his own life, fifth-century Athenian Socrates (4) set the standard for all subsequent Western philosophy.” (http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/socr.htm#top)

What did Socrates do?

What did Socrates do while he was alive?

Answers: (1) He educated (not just taught) young people of Athens to think, question their

thinking and question others, to develop a moral philosophy.(2) He debated (dialogued with) arrogant aristocrats who believed they

completely understood the world. He rejected pay though he was a well-known public figure.

(3) He frightened Athenian leaders and philosophers with opposing beliefs because they thought he was “radical” in his thinking, political views, and rejection of materialism.

They feared he would start a thought revolution of new thought and moral values by appealing to the younger generation.

(4)He created the Socratic method of questioning people to provoke thought. He thus generated “dialogue” to answer moral questions or at least pose a series of hypotheses for people to accept or reject.

(5) He opposed the “Sophist.” (See next slide for information on the Sophists)

Socrates vs. the Sophists

Socrates believed Sophists to be deceptive orators and teachers who charged fees to audiences, yet only manipulated people’s minds with tricky expressions without truly teaching them or helping strengthen their knowledge or virtues.

He believed Sophists’ teachings were false and their teachings motives were impure. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/sophist)

Who or what were Sophists?

A Sophist was “a member of a school of ancient Greek professional philosophers who were expert in and taught the skills of rhetoric, argument, and debate, but were criticized for specious [baseless or flawed] reasoning.” (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861710400/sophist.html)

”The sophists were active before and during the time of Socrates and Plato, who were their main critics.” (http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861710400/sophist.html)

Sophists were traveling teachers who came to Athens to recruit youthful followers and who behaved much like many of today’s motivational speakers and political spin doctors. They required money before they would speak to audiences.

Sophists taught what?

Sophists mainly taught Three (3) forms of Skepticism:

Skepticism is “A Doubting State of Mind.”

Three (3) FORMS of Skepticism

Phenomenalism (Nothing is definitive; humans can only perceive what is in their minds or external to minds.

Empiricism (Only what humans can experience through the senses can enhance humans’ knowledge)

Relativism (Truth is not independent, but depends on the individual and the situation in which a person is in)

Source: http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/classics/dunkle/studyguide/sophists.htm

What happened to SOCRATES?

Socrates was a man who accepted death without fear and rather than forfeit his beliefs in human’s rights to challenge status quo thinking. He drank a poisonous mixture and died in the company of friends after the Athenian Court determined to execute him.

Why was Socrates sentenced to die?

The Court of Athens could not prosecute him for exercising his political voice.

The Court thus charged him with:

(A) corrupting the youth of Athens(B) interfering with the religion of

the city

(C) He had three options for punishment: *Death, *Exile, or *Government order to be Silent

Socrates video

To learn more about his

life,simply click below to view youtube video, “Socrates.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2KzymrmNa0

Socratic Method

Posing a series of questions to guide another person’s thought process through logical steps.

To betterunderstand the Socratic Method, please watch the simple video demonstration at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5fx0Ukf3cU&feature=related

Socrates' Approach to philosophy

Ironic Modesty: He reminded people that all person’s possess a certain ignorance.

Questioning Habit: He used probing questions to reveal to people character flaws. This was referred to as the dialectic method (Question and Answer approach) that required (1) discussion, (2) debate, and (3) argument.

Devotion to Truth: He chose execution over exile or government-sanctioned silence after being found guilty of corrupting the youth and violating religion of Athens. He believed in his right to seek Truth and advance philosophy.

Dispassionate Reason: Even in the face of death, he was reasonable and spoke of the importance of reasoning.

Source: http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2d.htm#apol

Socrate’s syllogism in the face of death

1. Major premise: One ought never to do wrong (even in response to the evil committed by another).

2. Minor Premise: But it is always wrong to disobey the state.

3. Conclusion or Claim: Hence, one ought never to disobey the state.

Source of direct quote: http://www.philosophypages.com/hy/2d.htm#apol

Syllogism -- a formal deductive argument made up of a major premise, a minor premise, and a

conclusion or claim.

FYI: Not all syllogisms lead to a reasonable conclusion or claim, even if the formula for constructing the syllogism is followed.

Review

For a short review of Socrates’ life, Click the video link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=941OKdKmq9Q&feature=related

The End . . . .Have a great day!

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