Overview
This lecture discusses Socrates's concept of the self, focusing on the soul, self-knowledge, virtue, and the pursuit of the good life through wisdom and self-examination.
Background on Socrates
- Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher and the forerunner of Western philosophy.
- Known for the Socratic method, a way of questioning to gain understanding.
- Plato, his student, wrote dialogues that preserved Socrates's teachings.
- Socrates chose death over exile as a philosophical lesson for his students.
The Self and the Soul
- Socrates believed philosophy should achieve practical benefits for society, starting with self-knowledge.
- "Ultimate wisdom comes from knowing oneself" summarizes Socrates's view.
- He viewed the soul not in a religious sense, but as the thinking and willing subject of a person.
- The soul is the intellectual and moral personality, representing one's true self.
- The soul/self is the agent responsible for right and wrong actions, as it is the seat of knowledge and ignorance, goodness and badness.
Self-Knowledge and Virtue
- Self-examination leads to discovering one's true self.
- Taking care of the soul is necessary to attain the good life.
- The good life is defined as being wise and virtuous.
- Knowledge, wisdom, and virtue are acquired internally, not externally.
- The famous statement "the unexamined life is not worth living" emphasizes self-knowledge.
Virtue, Knowledge, and Evil
- For Socrates, virtue is identical with knowledge and intrinsic to every person.
- Self-examination is key to accessing virtue and discovering truth.
- "Knowing what is right is doing what is right" is a core Socratic dictum.
- Evil results from ignorance of the good, not from knowing and ignoring the good.
The True Self
- True self is not identified with possessions, status, reputation, or the body.
- The quality of one’s life depends on the state of the soul, not external wealth or achievements.
- The true self is achieved by living in accordance with knowledge, wisdom, and virtue.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Soul — For Socrates, the thinking and willing subject; the essence of a human's intellectual and moral personality.
- Virtue — Moral excellence, identical with knowledge in Socratic philosophy.
- Socratic Method — A form of cooperative argumentative dialogue through questioning to stimulate critical thinking.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Reflect on personal self-knowledge and examine how it influences daily decisions.
- Prepare for next class by reviewing Plato's dialogues on the soul and virtue.