Socrates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Socrates - Essay ExampleSocrates was truly one of the few philosophers in tarradiddle to make a significant attempt to question and fundamentally change the methods and paradigms of philosophical examination. Although most of our current hunch forwardledge of Socrates comes down to us from second-hand sources, the nature of Socrates sprightliness as a man and as a philosopher seem to shine as brightly for any one man in throughout the trail of history (Nails). Socrates trial and death seemingly mark the birth of philosophywith his influence stretching far beyond the boundaries of the tradition. Socrates, as the founder of a sumptuous tradition, exemplifies a life to many which is paradigmatic for the contemplative rational being. It is to this grand figure that we now turn an explorative eye, in order to grasp the fair play about the man and the philosopher.The question is whether one must know the man first to get to know the philosopher, or to know the philosopher first to get to know the man. The arguments for either approach are compelling in one respect, Socrates was a human being completely devoted to a life of contemplation and a search for truththus making him fundamentally a philosopher. But, as Aristotle would say, the existence of a philosopher is predicated of the existence of man, for without there being a man, there would be no philosopher. Accordingly, we will follow the second approach to broach the topic of Socratic philosophy from the backsidegetting straight the facts of Socrates life, and then moving on to the facts which define his contributions to philosophy as a whole.According to Socrates, and fellow critics, the governance of Athens had become crooked and disgracefully ineptin stark communication channel to the Age of Pericles only a few years before. Philosophical quarrels had become mere demagoguery ploys to convince others aspirations for political power slowly supplanted justice.