Socrates - Wisest Man Around

"All I know is that I know not."

Having only a small amount of information on the historical Socrates, I have used Socrates from 'The Apology' as the most accurate description. 

Socrates is such a mythical character, and if it weren't for his multitude of writings and reviews by his peers he would have his place in the Pantheon of Grecian demi-gods. He was intelligent, without a doubt. He was also described as ugly 'with a crooked nose' usually 'ill-clad and barefoot', a true sage. But his inquiring nature alone is something remarkable, unending and as most viewed bull-headed. 

 Of Athenian origin he traveled abroad to teach the youth of general inquiry. He strangely would take no monetary recompense. This is a direct correlation with the Sophists, whom he despised. He was notorious for asking hard questions. Most of which he didn't know the answer. 

'Who should mend the Ship of State?'

Socrates, in The Apology, is accused as being 'an evil-doer and a curious person, searching into the things under the earth and above the heavens; making the worse appear the better cause, and teaching all this to others'. Sounds like an honorable man to me. His eventual conviction was of 'not worshiping the Gods of the State' and 'inventing new gods and teaching them to the young and corrupting them'. In modern time we would call it a witch hunt.

His first defense is stating that he is not a scientist, for he does not make 'physical speculations'. Thusly, he does not 'search into things under the earth'. He also, as I mentioned earlier, does not take drachma for his teachings. So he states,

'Why am I called wise and have such an evil fame?'

He then goes on to tell a (slightly) fantastic story of his life. This story paints him as a forefather and a hero of philosophy. 

The Oracle of Delphi was once asked if there was a man wiser than Socrates. She said there was not, and left the philosopher puzzled. He was sure that he knew nothing, but even more secure in his belief that a God could not tell a lie. From then on he began his philosophical venture to examine this prophetic truth while hoping to relieve himself of this perceived paradox. 

A politician was first, thought 'wise by many'. After his inquiry into the knowledge of this politician he found the man not to be wise and kindly told him so. The politician was understandably upset and hated Socrates for it. Next he went to a poet and an artisan. He didn't find their intellectual guide to be wisdom but inspiration or 'genius'. You can see how going around and telling people they are not wise could make enemies quickly. After exhausting his efforts he eventually came to a conclusion. 

'All men are wise if they understand that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing.'

This truth he, only unintentionally, spread to the youth. Ideas spread like dragonfire. So, intellectually grasping at straws, his accuser Meletus names him an atheist. Socrates refutes this with explaining his story, that he was in fact lead by a divine spirit (from the Oracle). This spirit supposedly come to him as a 'kind of voice'.

This only lead him to death, of course. As I am sure he saw coming. 

'In another world they do not put a man to death for asking questions.'

More to come!

Anaximander, "The Boundless"

"What is infinite is something other than the elements, and from it the elements arise." 

-Anaximander on arche

Living in Miletus, as a possible student of Thales, Anaximander was the first to deeply study geography as well as his teacher. He also is honored as one of the first metaphysicians in his creation of 'the Boundless' or 'the Unlimited'. This was an entity without origin, it's lack of a limit lead Anaximader to believe it was a thing unborn and immortal. This is a strange and wonderful new idea for the Greeks. 

He also brought forth many ideas in the realm of astronomy;

1. The celestial bodies pass under the earth in full circles.
2. The Earth floats free and unsupported
3. The celestial bodies lie behind one another.

While these ideas are something that one may teach a child, it is all thanks to Anaximander that we even have such a broad view. In his time it was revolutionary. The focus shifts to a cosmological view, an impression that the universe (not just the Earth) is an unbound and impersonal cause. This idea stays in philosophy for generations, spoiler alert, and even is analogous to current Buddhist belief, (see: my previous post).

Anaximader's 'boundless' is revolutionary in that it postulates something outside, something always greater out there, limitless, immortal, and completely unsupported. Not only is it all of these combined, but it also supports everything in turn. This principle reminds me of simultaneously current (quantum) physics and the Christian 'God'.

Anaximander was also the first one to create a sort of map of the world, heavily simplified. You can see that below, bonus points if you can guess what city is closest to the center.

Thoughts:

Is the 'arche', in your mind, immortal? Boundless?

Would you consider Anaximander a founding Metaphysician?

Thales of Miletus, First Scientist/Philosopher

Μέγιστον τόπος· ἅπαντα γὰρ χωρεῖ 

 "Place is the greatest thing, as it contains all things."

-Thales of Miletus 

 

Thales is a great place to start when discussing philosophy in general, for many reasons. He was inquisitive, intelligent, and purposeful and overall Thales is an amazing historical figure. He studied politics, engineering, astronomy, and delved into the very nature (physis) of the phenomenal world. He measured the height of the pyramids in Egypt. He was even the first to describe the world and it's phenomena in purely cosmological terms instead of the commonplace explanation, Gods and Goddesses. 

Aristotle called Thales the first philosopher and the founder of natural philosophy (Metaph. 983 621-622). This may be due to Aristotle's attempt to draw this philosophical lineage to himself. Thales was in search of the archê, the originating principle, which after through investigation he declared to be water. While in current terms this may not seem like much, Thales is marked as the creator of the scientific method and a foundation of our philosophical tradition. 

It is not all glamorous, Thales also reportedly realized the idea of the immortal soul, if you can believe Diogenes the Cynic. Thales also has some amazing quotes attributed to him;

"The past is certain, the future obscure."

"A multitude of words is no proof of a prudent mind."

Points of Thought:

• Is there, in fact, an archê? What is it? Where can you find it?
• Do you agree with this phrase? "What is the divine? That which had no origin and no end."