Socrates

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, although he did not leave any writings of his own or, at least, none of these were preserved, Socrates' philosophy and his personality are conserved in many of the works of his disciples. The author points out that Socrates' most famous appearance was as a character in Plato's dialogues. Socrates is the first thinker to change the focus of philosophy from the general theories related to the physical world to theories of the human world. The paper examines several themes of Socrates' philosophy such as knowledge, ethics, justice and justness and the virtuous life.

From the Paper:

"Notably, Socrates' political theories follow the same pattern: for instance, the ideal system of government described in "The Republic" is curiously analogical with the human soul (the repository of justice and virtue) and with the soul's relation to the human body. He does not emphasize so much the relationship established between the city and the citizen, but rather that between the ruler and the inhabitants. The city is in itself, essential for the life of the individuals, but here the art of government and that of the ruler are highlighted instead of the idea of democracy."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Benson, Hugh H. Essays on the Philosophy of Socrates. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
• Plato. The Republic. London: Oxford University Press,1945.
• --The Collected Dialogues of Plato, Including the Letters, ed. by Edith Hamilton and Hungtinton Cairns. New York: Pantheon Books, 1961.
• "Socrates (c. 470 B.C.-399 B.C.)." DISCovering Biography. Online ed. Detroit: Gale, 2003

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• Essay # 6193 : "Socrates and the Concept of Justice"
• Analytical Essay # 86480 : "Socrates and Plato's 'The Apology'"

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